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"Taming the Concrete Jungle"
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March 2009
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Greetings!
"Springtime
is the land awakening. The March winds are the morning yawn."
~ From "Kathy Sue Loudermilk, I Love You"
Spring is almost here! I think I catch glimpses of it at certain moments, in the way the days are beginning to steadily lengthen, the sun shines more brightly on the land, and a warm breeze sometimes caresses my cheek in an unexpected greeting as I step outdoors.
This is the time of year when we begin to take stock of our long-forgotten gardens once again, mentally making notes about which plants need to be replaced, trimmed back, or added to. This is the best time of year for cutting back ornamental grasses and leftover foliage from dormant perennials.
If you plan to do a spring installation of plants or flowers, this is also the time to begin planning the design and gathering the details of how much it will cost, what types of plants will do best in your garden, and ways to budget your garden plans over one season or many seasons to come.
As my spring calendar does tend to quickly fill up in the months of April and May, please let me know as soon as possible if you would like to be put on my list for this year's spring installations. I always prefer to give first choice to my existing customers.
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Park Avenue Paradise
There are some striking before and after photos of this garden project on our website.
When I was first called in to look at this backyard garden for a townhouse near Park Avenue, the entire area looked like a construction zone. There was an ancient and decaying limestone tile mixed with areas of greyish-white gravel.
The wood pergola over the columns was almost completely rotted away and falling down in places. The fountain was cracked and there was only the one planting bed on the left with just a couple of half-dead looking plants in it.
Our first objective was to replace the rotted pergola boards with a new, very clean, classically styled pergola made from very durable and long-lasting ipe. The fountain was repaired and the blue stone patio surface was installed, leaving room for planting area on both sides of the garden to create more of a sense of enclosure and abundance within the space.
With the garden's northern exposure, it was necessary to use a mix of plantings that would tolerate shade. I chose boxwoods, white rhododendrons, blue hydrangeas, pink bleeding hearts, red-leaf Japanese maples, and an underplanting of pink and white impatiens.
An automated drip irrigation system runs throughout the beds under a cover of mulch and keeps the plants adequately watered, while remaining hidden from view. We also installed brass uplighting throughout the beds to illuminate the garden at night.
This photo was taken before all of the client's furnishings had been put into place. The large open area in the center of the courtyard was later filled with comfortable lounge chairs and tables for relaxing in.
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Plant Tip of the Month
 More plants die from too much water than any other cause. While it may seem counter-intuitive to let plants dry out, it actually benefits plants by allowing oxygen to pass into the soil. So let your plants take in a breath of fresh air once in awhile.
Also, when in doubt, check your plant's roots for black or mushy tips, which are an indication of rot due to excess moisture.
If your plants are not developing very deep roots, such as the ones show in the photo at left, it is because you are watering too frequently and shallowly. It is always better to water deeply and less frequently, to help encourage stronger roots to grow and seek out water further down in the container.
Wait until the soil surface dries out slightly to the touch between waterings and your plants will thank you for it by blooming more abundantly and developing less brown tips.
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Red Hot Pots
These shiny red lacquer pots are my pick of the month for the best new planters that are available this season. They are bold, modern, and made from very durable and lightweight fiberglass. Make a dramatic statement in the garden this year with lacquered pots. They are also available in lime, black, and white. They come in either round shapes or tall tapered squares.
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Happy Gardening!
Sincerely,
The Gotham Gardener &
Amber Freda Landscape Design
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| Save 10% |
All items installed prior to April 1, 2009 are eligible for a 10% Winter Discount. This applies to planters, potting soil, peat moss, evergreens, irrigation, and lighting systems.
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Offer Expires: April 1, 2009
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