Almost every garden's got an odd spot. In my mother's garden,
it was on the northeast corner of the house - a spot without much light
and worse than that, over-saturation from the rain gutter. For years
she couldn't get anything to grow there. Her daffodils died. So did her
begonias. The only thing that thrived: slugs. But finally, her
gardening endurance paid off. She tinkered with the rain gutter, she
replaced some of the soil, and now she's got a lovely flowering shrub
in the spot. Want to transform your garden's odd spot? Here are a few
tips to help you turn that corner into the highlight of your garden.
So you've got a spot in your garden that won't grow. Doesn't everyone? Here's how to tackle that problem area.
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Do a Site Assessment
The first step to gardening your trouble
spot back to health is to figure out what's really wrong with it. Is it
dark? Does it have poor drainage? Is it the dog's favorite digging
area? Is the soil poor? Is it a tragic combination of all of the above?
Once you know what's really wrong with your garden's odd spot, you're
on your way to solving the problem.
Make Amends
Knowing the problem is only the first step. Then
you've got to face it. Chances are you've tried a few tricks to get
your garden going in the odd corner already - new plants, new watering
regimens, etc. But if the problem is more fundamental than that, say
poor soil or poor drainage, go to the root of the problem. Bring in new
soil. Dig a drainage trench. Pull out the bush that blocks all the
light. Be tough on your garden's odd corner. It's the only way.
Consider Your Alternatives
Practicing tough love in the garden
may lead to an unpleasant conclusion: your garden's odd spot is
destined to remain an odd spot. If you've assessed the problem, gotten
to the deep root of it (or realized you can't get to the root of it
without major sacrifices, say ripping out a tree you love), and despite
your best gardening efforts still found yourself facing a wasteland,
it's time to consider your alternatives. How would a nice big rock look
in that corner? Maybe a bench? You're bound to feel better about
throwing in the towel if you're lounging in the shade.
Take
the right steps, and your garden's odd spot can become its crowning
glory. And if not, at least you'll know you gave it your all.
About the Author
Dawn West B.A. holds a B.A. in English from Harvard University and teaches writing at Oregon State University.
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