Editing is a necessary action for many of the common things encountered daily. As a gardener, when I look at the garden, editing is an essential practice for many reasons. Looking at the same garden year after year gets old. As with life, everything must change from time to time. Many times, the changes are not to our liking. That is when we realize that editing is necessary to maintain a positive perspective.
When we consider editing, first one must remove what is no longer pleasing. Is it that tall Solidago that seems to continue creeping through the garden bed? Left to it’s own devices, a plant such as this will overtake anything in it’s path. While it may be easy to edit, unless all of the roots are removed, it will continue to show up season after season. While this plant is a food source for pollinators, planting it in the proper space is simply a good idea. As the saying goes… everything isn’t for everybody.
Should we choose to allow the undesirable plants in the garden to go without editing, the roots will deeply embed themselves in the existing soil. Once this happens, editing becomes quite difficult.
Let’s explore leaving Periwinkle in place. While the evergreen leaves, accented by beautiful blooms in spring often serves as a great groundcover – reconsidering this plant is simply a suggestion. As with many plants considered invasive in certain zones, the first year they sleep, second year they creep, the third year they leap. Practicing patience in the garden is the perfect way to keep editing at a minimum.
When I first purchased my Cottage, money was tight. Considering a mortgage, utilities, home ownership was exciting, however I still needed to create a garden that was mine. So many people offered me free plants and I turned nothing away (my first mistake). Although I knew better, i decided to place the free periwinkle at the base of the white oak tree in lieu of mulch. My plan was to save up and purchase flats of mondo grass for a perennial lawn like affect under the tree. My vision was to have Crocus, Galanthus and other spring bulbs pop through for a magical welcome to spring. Just imagine – a low maintenance vision of beauty, right?
Sadly, the Oak tree has been removed, I pulled up all the periwinkle or “killed” it by covering it with fresh, hot stump grindings. That was two years ago and I am still editing the periwinkle out of places that it is no longer wanted.
Think of Clematis terniflora. Ah yes, the benefits of a quick growing vine, perfect for the arbor or wall. It seems so innocent when the buds open and emit a sweet scent signaling summer’s end. Sweet Autumn clematis situated on the arbor by my writing room window seemed like a good idea twenty years ago. Unfortunately I find seedlings every where I didn’t plant it. Newsflash – even if you do not water it, this vine still grows.
I am suggesting keep that sleep, creep, leap idea in the forefront of our minds as we consider editing our gardens. Reminding ourselves that not all beauty is good beauty, no matter how sweet the smell, is a good idea. As our would continues to change, editing the things that were poor choices before deeper roots alter our existence permanently is essential.
As we begin nesting season, consider how editing your garden to remove what no longer pleases you. Taking time to choose change over chaos always creates a beautiful landscape in life and in the garden. We learn by the choices we make, no matter how much we want change, choices without research matter. Sometimes year three can become quite a challenge, as the roots can be deeper than anticipated.
Are you considering editing your existing landscape?
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