When we bought this house ten years ago, the previous owner had planted many perennials around the border of the back yard. She worked at a Menards garden center, and brought home a LOT of stuff. Interspersed among the perennials, she would place pots of annuals, burying the pots into the ground. I am still digging up some of these old pots!
My back yard fence is in process of being totally rebuilt. It was a 6' cedar privacy fence, with cedar posts set in concrete, and built in the '60's, and guess what? the cedar post are rotted out! On this fence has been growing Trumpet Vine on the west side, and Virginia Creeper on the south and east sides. In the lawn is what may be Indian (false) strawberry. The north fence has been infested with what may be bindweed, which is indeed spreading like bindweed! English ivy has been gradually spreading from the northwest (front) of the house around to the east. It will not reach the back yard due to a concrete patio separation. Deadly nightshade seems to show its ugly self quite regularly, although I pull it out whenever I find it. We have Tiger lillies, a Hybiscus, one rambunctious rose that over-produced blooms this last summer, wild roses along the east fence, three dwarf hydrangea trees, and two (or more) forcythia bushes. There had been a small planting of decorative oat grass that I didn't know had to be absolutely contained before going to seed, so now this is sprouting up all over. The south side of the house has three unknown shrubs. They are now trimmed back to about 5' to 6' but had previously been out of hand. One has red leaves. I will likely keep them, as this wall of the house is quite bare.
I know there are many other plants currently growing out there, but I either haven't identified them yet, haven't noticed them yet, or have simply forgotten them.
The two street sides of the fence have been rebuilt, but the south side is currently half missing. I had to remove several trees and get the stumps ground out before continuing, and the weather has caught up with me. The remaining half of the south fence, and the east fence are still original and will be rebuilt as time and finances permit. Yes, they are partially falling down now! Isn't that what brace poles are for?
Also, I have been reading "One Straw Revolution" by Masanobu Fukuoka, and he has some ... revolutionary ideas about natural gardening. I like his ideas a lot, but am not sure just how practical they are to a "kitchen" garden. Nevertheless, there are some principles, like biodiversity, and natural composting, that I think are essential.
The next two years will likely see the greatest change my back yard has seen for a long time. I will finish the fence, put in a garden, probably put in a garden fence (to keep the collie out!) and likely remove some plants and replace them with others. I would LOVE to have one or two healthy long-term deciduous trees along the south edge (but not IN the fence!!!!) perhaps an oak or beech tree.
Nothing happens quickly around here, but it happens.
HAPPY NEW YEAR
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What a wonderful project. I love a garden that incorporates many different elements - shrubs, perennials, annuals, grasses, herbs, vegetables. You have an understanding of the extreme planning you will have to do. Planting plants with similar needs next to each other, mature size, bloom time. All critical to a successful mixed garden. Before you plant your trees consider and plan for the impact of the shade on the rest of your garden in years to come.
