WHERE TO PUT THOSE PERENNIALS

I was visiting young friends yesterday. The house they own has an established perennial bed on the south wall. A perennial bed that the previous owner installed. The question presented me went something like this: It’s all weedy and I’m just going to dig it up. Then what?

Well, lots of ‘what’. First thing that needs consideration (and I’m talking to all of you) is to move this bed out from under the eaves. Why should you stand out in the pouring rain, hose in hand, watering a bed that is under the eaves and bone dry? Lay down some landscape fabric, cover it with rock/stones/ gravel and move the bed out.

Now you need to think about what shape you want that bed to take, how deep. Think about the scale of house to bed. Don’t be skimpy.

That’s enough for now ~ be thinking.

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Rosemary Fitzpatrick, the Kachemak Gardener

Having arrived in Alaska May, 1972 I have had much to contend with on the gardening front. The impetus to start gardening can be traced directly to empty grocery store shelves in 1973 due to a Teamsters strike. That was a wake up call. The first garden was on a gravel pad in Eagle River, the second in Wasilla. That one was rounded out with two goats, a flock of chickens and our two children. The third in Homer, where we settled in 1978, is the spot where much was learned. Starting in 1990 I have written the Kachemak Gardener in an attempt to encourage new gardeners and those of you who have tried and failed. Stick with me, let’s get you gardening.

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