Secrets of a Garden Designer - Part II

Have you ever wondered about how garden designers approach spending? In this second part of ‘Secrets of a Garden Designer’ we will look at the larger topic of investing in yourself as a gardener and investing in the garden.

Infographic showing the steps outlined in this blog post.

In Part I of this blog series, we explored the different needs our gardens can fill for us: emotional, practical, aesthetic, etc. By understanding and embracing our intentions in the garden we can gain valuable insight on how to spend when it comes to our cherished outdoor spaces.

By outlining six categories where it makes sense to allot funds for longer-term garden investments, we’ll share with you our strategy for feeling fulfilled in our gardens. And don’t worry, if you’re looking for more annual budget line items, Part III of this series will address those considerations.

Investment 1: Quality Raised Garden Beds

Raised garden beds are a great investment in the garden as they allow you to manage your edible and cut flower gardens by starting with what matters most: the soil (see Investment No. 2).

Raised beds come in many shapes, materials and sizes but we suggest that you stick to untreated wood such as cedar or invest in galvanized metal beds. For bed size, we don’t recommend anything wider than 4’ and height should be at least 18”. Think of your investment in raised beds as a jump start to your gardening.

Raised beg garden flowing with greenery.

Investment 2: Major Soil Remediation

We cannot talk about healthy living soil enough and so let’s spend a moment and reassure you that money spent on good quality living soil is a true lasting investment in your garden.

Linking back to investing in raised beds, filling them with a good quality soil is a great way to bypass tricky unknown native soil in your garden and get you growing with gusto. If you choose to remediate the soil that you have in your inground garden beds, you’ll want to invest in a broadfork and good quality compost to top dress your soil with.

Investment 3: Local Experts

Nothing puts a damper on your growing potential like branches that overhang your garden and create shade conditions. Investing in an arborist to both care for and prune your trees can be a big asset that influences your potential garden yield.

Likewise, if you have tasks to be completed that require many hands (laying mulch for example, or weeding a large area) hiring a landscape laborer will free up your time so that you can perform more delicate tasks like seeding and planting in the garden.

Investment 4: Irrigation Systems

Consistent and deep watering is the key to healthy and robust crops. And, while we all aspire to be out in the early morning hours watering our gardens, we know it isn’t always feasible. Investing in a good quality drip irrigation system is one way to ease your garden chores as well as help your plants thrive.

Irrigation systems can be DIY or professionally installed and work best when used with timers so that you can benefit from watering when you’re or home or not!

Investment 5: Garden-centered travel for inspiration

We all grow from inspiration and garden tourism is a real thing! Head out to your local arboretum or botanical garden or better yet plan a day trip, road trip or go even further to visit a famous garden that you’ve always dreamed of seeing. Expanding our appreciation for others’ gardens is a wonderful way to see our own spaces through a new and fresh lens and can bring relief from garden fatigue and frustration.

Pictured below:

Luay at the Jardins Majorelle in Marrakesh, Morocco. A garden created by the French artist Jacques Majorelle. In the 80s, the garden was sold to designer Yves Saint Laurent, who worked to restore it with his partner Pierre Berge. Saint Laurent’s ashes are scattered in the garden.

The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens in San Marino, California in the Los Angeles area. Sprawling themed gardens, greenhouses, and an impressive rose garden.

Bali, Indonesia. The fauna and flora around Ubud are simply spectacular and a feast for the sense.

Jardin des Tuileries, Paris. With the Louve as a backdrop, these gardens are teaming with inspiration.

Investment 6: Garden education: A Year in the Urban Garden Master Class

We would be remiss in creating this list without mentioning our successful garden-to-table master class. A Year in the Urban Garden has been a great investment for hundreds of garden students who have spent their time, money and energy wisely to learn more about how to grow abundantly all while being supported by us (Luay and Melissa!). This is truly an investment with tangible results in the first season and for many seasons to come.

Now that we’ve covered the big expenditures, we hope you’ll continue reading in the coming week as we release Part III of Secrets of a Garden Designer, when we chat about budgeting.