‘In The Garden’ — Help For Problem Areas
By AMY MUNCY
Master Gardener Intern
(EDITORS NOTE: This is the second of a two part article on problem areas. On Aug. 13, Muncy talked about shade, hot,dry area, slope, overgrown hedge/ugly view, unslightly features. This article continues the topics.)
WARSAW — AN OVERGROWN/NEGLECTED POND — There is a chance you can get it functional again. Clean and repair and replant it. You can usually cover or hide a visible liner or not so attractive edging with paving slabs or make your own stones with quick setting concrete. You can involve the kids with making your own stepping stones or leaf imprints and they could use their hand print impression for generations to come to enjoy. If you do not want a pond or it has slow leaks that are to much to repair, you can fill it and make a water retentive sunken bed ideal for a bog garden. Or fill with sand and make a sand box/play area.
A SINGLE LARGE TREE — Providing the tree is healthy and not to near the house, you can add certain plants that can handle growing under certain trees. Under most trees, the ground is poor and there is a great deal of shade most of the time. Before you do anything to the tree, make sure you own it if it may be close to your borders of your land. If it can be trimmed to add more light and air, most neighbors if asked are fine with a small trim. Always trim branches next to your house or other buildings as the close proximity and sway of the branches can damage a building. Foxgloves and Canterbury Bells are inclined to do OK under a tree. This can add a great deal of impact, not to mention color, to your outdoor space.
OVERGROWN PATH OR UNATTRACTIVE PATIO — If there are cracks in the patio or the path is missing pieces, replant the cracks with a scented ground cover or herb. In order to kill the weeds that are growing in the cracks, trim weeds by mowing or cutting and pour boiling water on them. The next day, all will be dead, if not sooner. Just pull up dead plants, make holes or cracks larger if you want and fill with good soil and plants. Soften hard edges by planting along them. Or change a straight path to a meandering one. Try sketching it out on paper to see you think would work for your outdoor space. Maybe you can change your surface material. Such as a concrete patio. Cover it with a layer of colorful gravel. Or even add some cobblestones between brick or pavers for a change up.
BALCONIES — That are dingy and faded can get a face lift with a simple cleaning and paint job. Make sure the balcony is sound and find out how much weight it is tolerant for. You can attach wall baskets to the actual wall and this will add no weight to the balcony. There may be a roof, you can hang lightweight pots off it. Use of window boxes at your windows. This way you can have your choice of scents, produce and color. I have grown tomatoes and peppers in pots before for the fresh produce.
The only other things I would say about your gardens that you plan is this. There will always be problem areas in any setting and always plant what you like, as you are the one to look at it the most. And learning never stops for the true gardener, as the more you know, the more you can grow.
Amy Muncy was born in Wabash County and lived there for close to 40 years. Muncy grew up in the country, has always enjoyed gardening and mowing the lawn. She has been gardening since a small girl. She moved to Kosciusko County in 2000. She is a master gardener intern at this point, but will be a full master gardener before long.
“I enjoy all aspects of gardening. I really don’t have an expertise on any one thing. I make compost. I can, freeze and dehydrate. I like to grow veggies, flowers, herbs and houseplants. I like to plant trees everywhere I can. I know a little bit about a lot of gardening. I would say most of my experience has been on composting and different ways to do it. I believe we must conserve our land for our future generations and composting is a great way of doing this. The more we become self sufficient, the better off future generations are and we need to be teaching them by example.”