Our Main Topic Areas

by Doug
(In His Garden)




Here's the Search Engine Exercise to help me build out this site and get your landscaping questions answered.

I hope you can appreciate that many landscaping "problems" come with multiple parts to be solved. "Steep shady slope" - means we have to combine "slopes" with "shade" and that means an involved answer. So when you shorten up your question to the important words, that lets me figure out what it really is I can write about. :-)

This is an ongoing process and I regularly add pages to this site to help you with individual problems.

Using the comments section below - you get to enter the things you want to know about landscaping and garden design.

But you only get between 1 - 5 words. NO MORE!

(entries with more than 5 words will be deleted)

You can put multiple entries into the same comment.

But in order to do this, you have to give each one of them their own line.

Hint: This is like "searching" for information on a search engine and that's going to give me the data I need at this stage.

I take these general suggestions and build pages from them to help you with your landscaping issues.




Comments for
Our Main Topic Areas

Click here to add your own comments

juglone tolerant plants
by: Dianne

How to landscape a yard near butternut

LIST OF POSSIBLE DESIGNS
by: Anonymous

EXAMPLES OF POSSIBLE DESIGNS ( BLUE PRINTS)?

Design Ideas
by: Heather

Narrow strip between two houses

Looking forward to this!!
by: CAB

Landscape design four season interest
Designing foundation plantings
Perennial mix all summer color

5 words or less
by: Anonymous

hillside garden problems

thanks Doug for all your effort
by: Clara

compost pile too wet
cover compost pile in rain
gardening in too much rain

am seeking advice zone 3
by: Clara

record rainfalls for summer months
coping with wet saturated conditions
health of plants
reapply compost / fertilizer ?
apply compost tea in rain?
can earthworms survive/need help
do slugs climb higher rain
more slug damage in rains



New Gardener
by: Jayne

Where to start?
Zone 9
Rainy season flooding, help!
ugly well in side yard
Can I plant on septic hill?

Good Luck
by: Barbara Kantz

Garden Art Objects
slug removal
hanging tomato baskets
entrepreneurial gardening
recycling and gardening
seed swapping
plant and seedling swapping

Watering
by: Montana Robin

What is best: Overhead/Underfoot
How much, how deep
Raspberries vs. vegetable garden
Fall flowers vs. summer beauties

landscape topics
by: Sunshine

edging treatments
maintenance in deep beds
designing access paths
access path treatments
front entrance gardens
winter interest
siting a pond
blocking unsightly elements e.g. compost
rejeuvenating an aging property
life span of shrubs
when to prune/cut down

New Garden
by: Sylvia

New xeriscape garden in zone 8

Less Grass!
by: H.C.

Replace grass surfaces
design alternatives for grass

More landscaping
by: Janet

Height balance
Colour balance.
Evergreen "shrubbery" for "winter bones".
Waiting for dahlias to grow.
Paths.--where and what?
VEgetables among shrubs and perennials.

Landscaping 101
by: Anonymous

shallow, wide garden: create depth?

Landscaping 100.8
by: Lorra

Smart way to edge beds
Front walkway design
Create mossy areas
Eliminating moles
Before/after photos
Photos of changing seasons
Design drawings/layout
Repairing mole damage
Planting nut trees
Starting a pawpaw patch
Easy flower bed edging

Landscaping 101
by: Sharon J

Moles
No grass grows in shade
Front walk design
Planting over septic field lines
Design for 4-5' high bank
Hiding propane tank
Pruning trees & shrubs
Controlling ivy
Creating "rooms"
How to edge patios, yard
How to treat fresh manure

Front yard perennials
by: Krash

grassless, perennial front yard plans
perennials for dry, shady beds
perennials by big spruce trees
lawn alternatives

Dress Up My Yard
by: Sandy

cozy, fragrant sitting area
fragrant flower beds
inexpensive trellis ideas
planting for year-round color
planting for attracting birds




Loving It!
by: Fred

Bulb Gardening
Doctoring the soil(clay)
Sharing the garden with varmits.
Healthy Lawns
Raising Plants From Seeds

no clue what to do
by: daffshaw

water standing in yard
mushrooms growing everywhere
sandy soil
shady soil
water washing downhill

Landscaping 101
by: ava

shade containers
full sun backyard design
color all year round
preparing a bed from scratch
planting bulbs zone 4

large hillside yard - zone 2
by: Carol

terracing lawns
retaining soil on hillside
cover for removable septic tank lid
totally rid weed trees (aspen)
steps for hillside

Per Doug's request
by: Dori

Full shade landscapes
Winter landscapes
Four season designs
Lawn-free designing
Effective tree placement

Drought landscaping
by: Anonymous

Extreme drought tolerant plants
landscaping w/efficient water usage

Landscaping
by: Lorra

Nuances of shade gardening
Moles
Half day sun garden designs
Early season tip pinching
What plants to tip pinch
Open dappled shade garden
Photo plus diagram of beds
Northside foundation designs
Front walk designs
Low maintenance beds
Room designs for shade
Color for shade
Containers for hot sunny patio


Landscaping website
by: Eileen

tall foundation plantings northern exposure
hillside gardening
garden paths
gardening over septic fields
gardens before and after
scented gardens
re-establishing natural pond on slope
disguising propane tanks
continuous flowering with perennials
arbors, trellises, pergolas
gardening for form, texture, height
filling in big sunny spaces

What I'd like to see:
by: county.agent

Correcting drainage on hillside gardens
Building rock gardens on slopes
Small pools' flora and fauna
Green roof design for homes
Pleaching, pollarding, and pruning
plants for rainwater gardens

Work in Progress
by: SheilaIL

Creating Garden in Old Yard
Small Naturalized Garden
Spacing to allow for growth
Garden now and next year
Mature plant pictures
Lawn varmits be gone!
Controlling Japanese Beetles forever
Small perennial flower bed

starting from scratch
by: beswickdog

building over septic fields
everything about soil

Am in awe of your tackling this topic!
by: Pam in MT

mountain rocky, little soil
animal resistance (deer, RABBIT, squirrel)
senior/ back saving
perennial with annual interspersed
cottage
"bones" plants

Country gardening
by: Fay

Planting over septic beds
Hiding utilities - ie. gas tanks
Making wells look pretty
Working with nature
How to fill big spaces
Natural water fronts
Fast growing trees



Themed Gardens
by: Marie

Cottage Garden
Scented Garden
Formal Garden
Oriental Garden
Winter Garden
Front Door Garden
Simple Water Features

Beyond Boring
by: April Wine

transitions between garden spaces
arbours, trellis, arched gateways
garden paths without concrete
proper planting of specimen rocks
garden lighting outside the box

Landscape issues
by: Erica B

planning for winter interest
wet area garden trees & flowers
rose shrub care
landscaping smells around patio
flower bulb design
landscaping around house
windbreak shrubs winter interest

landscaping seminar comments
by: Anonymous

revamping existing landscape
planning for winter interest
repeating plants elsewhere, how often
ideas for low plants
hiding cut-back grasses in Spring
balance of shrubs, evergreens, perennials
color distribution in plantings

Large farm yards-Zone 2b
by: Gayle

Creating order in cottage gardens
Using "volunteers" to best advantage
Height and dimension tips
Weed control in large spaces
Improving lawn grass in farm yards
Path and walkway placement

General Stuff
by: Texas Gardener

Fall Afternoon Sun Dead Zone
Dwarf Fruit Trees in Landscape
Importance of Natives in Design
Plant Diversity Line Between Hodgepodge
Use Annuals as Color Fillers
Trees for Specimen Planting
Trees for Understory Planting
Landscaping for Wildlife & Neighbors
Interplanting Veggies with Shrubs Flowers
Leave it or Remove it
Importance of Hardscaping Focal Points
Keep it Simple not busy
Note Sun Patterns throughout Day
Constructing a Dry Riverbed Feature


Landscape problems
by: Pamela

Developing "bones" of new garden
Revealing/reclaiming neglected garden bones
Bringing up long-neglected garden
Gardening with tree roots
Hiding propane tank or AC
Dealing with WAY overgrown shrubs

I Love My Garden
by: Miltongirl

Clay
Pruning trees and shrubs
Removing Forsythia permanently
Garden pests i
Ornamental grass perennial zone 4-5
Powdery mildew on lilac
Powdery mildew on peonies


Sorry, Can't Be More Brief
by: S.Thompson

Gardening Gravel Driveway Slope

Continuously Flowering Perennial Garden

Going Grass Free

Beautifying Propane Tank




My thoughts
by: Doug

Shade gardening
Shade loving water plants
Acid loving plants
Organic change soil P.H.

Landscape challenges
by: Jenny

Annuals to fill between perennials
Expanding vegetable gardens, limited space
Carrying the theme throughout
Moving ornamental grasses

Sunny Sandy Slope
by: Jim

Ridding the weeds
Drought resistant perennials
Drought resistant shrubs
Spring to fall color

Roses and Day lilies
by: Cherry Clark

Containers for entryway
Roses as a backbone
Day lilies for color/foliage
combining roses and day lilies
This is awesome, thank you!

design components
by: Karen

landscaping arranging perenials
landscaping pleasing proportions
removing trees
landscaping proportions flower borders

Shade Garden
by: Anonymous

spring wet but summer dry
Dry shade under an oak

Seniors
by: Coz Kristiansen

easy landscaping for seniors
ending weed nightmares
landscaping in terraces
back-saving ideas for seniors
landscaping around above-ground pools
the perfect front walkway
how to replace old landscaping
getting rid of unwanted trees
low budget landscaping

Landscaping
by: Monetgardening

Fast Growing Trees Zone 5a-b
Depth of Topsoil Required
Depth of Manure Required

Landscaping interests
by: Moni

Layering plants for continual bloom
Fall blooming perennials and shrubs
Creating paths
Developing garden rooms
Hardscaping ideas for open gardens
All season color in landscaping
Constructing dry stone river bed
Arbor placement guidelines
Long driveway landscaping designs
Hardy low growing conifers
Truly deer rabbit resistant conifers
Herb garden with flowers design
Large circular bed design

back yard
by: Nancy H

Dividing large back yard

INVASIVES Good vs Bad
by: Cindy Mc

Curbing invasives you love
Recognize potential invasive plants
Using invasives for slope control
When good invasives go bad
Eliminating existing invasive problems

Landscaping
by: Judy

Flowering Vines in the Landscape
Edible Landscape
Backyard Gardens Compatible for Dogs
Gardening for the Birds
Garden Islands
Color Combinations
Flowering Perennial Combinations
Landscaping Pictures
Creating Garden Paths

Always in change
by: Ann

layered plants for continual bloom
foliage gardens
monochromatic gardens
refreshing ground of established perenniels

Ideas
by: Sandy E

Working around Pine trees
Yard "edges" landscaping
Foundation planting
Front entrance planning
Garden "islands"
Planting around ponds/waterfalls

Mile-Hi Lawn and Garden
by: Betts

growing buffalo grass (bowie)
bloodmeal as fertilizer/pest deterrent

garden design
by: maude

shade after 1pm
double slope east and north
cedar tree roots

A little help for zone 8
by: Janet

flowers - sun and hot
Color - shade and hot
groundcover - hot summers, cool winters

Beginner Gardening
by: CountryGirl

Part shade part sun
Gives a splash from a distance
Flowers with large blooms
Repeat bloomers

Animal Resistant Gardens
by: CountryGirl

Perennials deer won't eat
Raccoon resistant plants
Squirrel resistant perennials

BEGINNER
by: KAREN

FLOWERS FOR SHADE
FLOWRS FOR tEXAS FULL SUN
BOG PLANTS
CLIMBING FLOWERS FULL SUN
CLIMBING FLOWERS FULL SHADE
FLOWERS FOR FALL
FOILAGE FOR FALL


Landscape up-dates
by: Nancy

up-dates to ranch front
up-dates to 2 story colonial
Up-dates to split level
small-scale trees for landscapes
softening unilock-stlye walls

garden types
by: terry

plants to attract butterflys
plants to attract hummingbirds
creating garden paths
bamboo gardens
low water use gardens
landscaping around a water feature

Proper air flow
by: Christa Krueger

Mature Cedar hedge
prevents airflow

pond
by: Terry

landscaping around ponds

Exciting Topic
by: Marie

Small evergreens for shade
Small evergreens for sun
Perennial seasonal color
Color Combinations
Redoing old gardens
Invasives
Winter interest
Curb appeal

In the woods
by: N.E. Ohio

Among the trees thin soil

starting over from scratch
by: Glenda

container gardening

Priorities
by: Joe

Prioritizing climate and soil factors

landscaping site
by: Jane W.

Layering rows and heights
Circular designs that work
Tricks of the trade
Part-Shade Gardens
No Lawn Gardens
Disquise plants that die back
Clay Dirt Gardening
creating "rooms"
pathway treatments
How to Stretch Your Zone
Continuous Flowering with Perennials


Topics
by: JoAnn

Constructing a "Walking Garden"
Filling in a large yard

You're Awesome Doug!
by: Sue

Landscaping under fir trees
Natural backyard ponds
Different coloured 'Rooms'
mixing veggies with flowers
clay soil
shade
dahlias
heirloom plants
waterfalls
dog 'proof' lawns


Help us Doug!
by: Sandy

Gardening in retirement
Low maintenance
Clay soil
Acid soil
Creating rooms

Help
by: Jerri

When to trim swamp cedars
Grass in ground cover
Mulch or periwinkle
How to edge ground properly

Zone 7
by: Carol

part sun part shade--clay
redirect water runoff
clay slope no liriope please
amend or just double dig
reverse erosion without murdering budget

shady pine trees
by: Anonymous

planting under pine trees

thank you doug!
by: eleni

container planting for landscaping
shade garden with seasonal color
drip system for flower garden
planting designs for front walkway
planting designs lining driveway
planting designs along fences
weed control
how to winter perennials
creating beautiful walkways
low water landscaping
landscape ideas without lawns

wanting it all
by: Patt Rose

vegetables, flowers biointensive and kid- friendly

all of the above!
by: diane

small backyard
color choices
all season interest
plant height
cover plants that die back

Zone 5
by: JStett

Steep hill to street
Hillside slope gentle
Hillside site mostly rocky soil
Add veg garden in shade
Pond planning site

Landscape design ideas
by: Danielle

natural looking lakeside setting
how to incorporate big rocks
garden for retirement
utility area - disguising the compost
gardening by the dockside
hide that humungous propane tank
logical layout of outbuildings
alternatives to lawn on stone/gravel
slow-growing low conifers
year round colour under trees
dealing with huge snowbanks
climbers to soften house edges




Shade Plants Zone 5
by: Jeanie K

Containers plants for shade

Full Sun Plants Zone 5
by: Jeanie K

Need plants to go with roses

Landscape Help
by: Judith

Incorporate "Natural" pond in backyard
Seasonal Interest
Impact of Colour Choices
Low Maintenance Plants & Shrubs
Do it yourself garden art
Butterfly & Bird attractants

landscape suggestions
by: Terri

simple irrigation tips
Animal damage prevention

Landscaping
by: okanagan

hillside lanscaping for sun
hillside landscaping for colour
hillside landscaping for all seasons
steep slope suggestions
all season plantings under trees
tiered plantings using perenials
shade & dappled shade plantings
plantings for a stepped 3-6ft wall

landscaping under fir tree
by: Judygirl

conditioning soil under fir tree
creating flowerbed under fir tree
best perennials under fir tree
garden edging under fir tree


Perennials within five!
by: JanO

Perennials by height
Perennials by color
Perennial blooms by month
Perennials for sun
Perennials for fragrance
Perennials for cutting
Perennial flower/foliage combinations
Perennial foliage only combinations
Well-drained full sun sites
Perennials for winter interest
You rock Doug!!!

Design ideas
by: Gardenlily

Full sun landscaping
Backyard & pool landscaping
Pathway plantings
Use of rocks, etc. in design

Landscaping
by: Greg

shady front entrance
space between sidewalk and street
front porch has 8 steps
boring straight sidewalk

landscape ideas
by: Terri

*amend existing gardens
*how to fix a lawn (sod)
*when to fertilize
*when can I move perennials


Zone 4 /5
by: Dianne

Wet clay soil
Good ground covers
Shady areas half day

front yard slope
by: Judygirl

retaining walls
front slope landscaping
low maintenance slopes
slow growing perennials
rock garden on slope



Color and Impact
by: Candi

Planting under Crepe Myrtle
Hardy perennials with impact
Planting for curb appeal
Easy maintenance design
Layering rows and heights
Circular designs that work
Color, color, color
Looks professional, but isn't
Tricks of the trade




Sloping landscape
by: Charlene

stopping mulch runoff

landscape topics
by: sunshine

creating "rooms"
pathway treatments
objet d'arts
garden bones
edging treatments
visual barriers
creating work areas
carrying a theme

Wild For
by: Anonymous Jann

Low maintenance landscaping for sun
Low maintenance landscaping for shade
all season color in landscaping

Hillside
by: Anonymous

Treating Hillsides
Shade design
Xerscaping

water gardens- earth bottom ponds
by: Geri L

WATER GARDENING, EARTH BOTTOM PONDS

landscaping quetions
by: Patricia

dry hot septic field
landscaping around existing trees shrubs
pathways eroding on slopes

Landscaping
by: Anonymous

garden room plans and plants
theme/color gardens

slope in front of house
by: Linda B

How to landscape a small slope

shrubs
by: rd

Height of shubs
color of shrubs
compatability of plants

List of Topic Ideas
by: Anonymous

Low Maintenance Landscape
Alternative to Lawns
Revamping Over Grown Plantings
Using Native Plants
Winter Protection
Attracting Birds
Attracting Butterflies
Plants for Shade (Wet and Dry)
Ground Covers for Variety of Conditions
Plants that are Disease and/or Insect Resistant
Edible Landscaping
Invasive Plants to Avoid
Plants for Various Soil Conditions
Plants Vary in Height from Label Information?
List of Good Plants for Each Zone
How to Stretch Your Zone
Irrigation for Location and Soil Types
Mature Height/Spread of Common Trees/Shrubs
What to Avoid Planting Together
Scented Garden
Continuous Flowering with Perennials






topic areas
by: Sally Victor

small space
bad dirt
multi-use
decorative vegetable
entertaining

Some ideas
by: Ruthxxx

Full Shade landscaping
Boggy area treatments
All-season shrubs for landscaping

Landscaping Phase I
by: GardenerBT

Bad Dirt (Clay aka Cement)
Too many rocks
Weed destruction
Boring not allowed

landscape ideas
by: Anonymous

designing for shade

garden rooms

small spaces

renovating old landscapes

layering plant interest
by: Anonymous

declining hillside in shade

Outdoor entertaining
by: Alison

Outdoor entertaining

Shade to Part Shade gardening
by: Anonymous

Shade to Part Shade gardening

landscaping
by: Cyndy

Low maintenance landscaping for sun
Low maintenance landscaping for shade
all season color in landscaping

Garden Before and After
by: Alison

Garden Before and After

garden lights
by: Alison

garden lights

Landscaping Ideas
by: Marilyn

Shady hillside gardening
Basement level backyard on slope
Shady front yard plans
Plantings around large oaks

Shade
by: Sandra

Hillside gardening for shade

Tall Plants Front White House
by: Anna

Tall Plants Front White House

Tall Plants Front White House
by: Anna

Tall Plants Front White House

My Backyard
by: Jack D

Back Yard Design
Working Around Pine Trees
Paths to Focus Areas
Making a Large Yard Look Smaller
Area for Veg Garden

Landscaping
by: Janet

perennials under cedars
merging rockery with shrubbery
HARD TO STICK TO FIVE!

Side of Garage Landscaping
by: Anonymous

Rocky side of garage landscaping.

Landscaping interests
by: Laura Campbell

Hillside Gardening Problems
Hillside Gardening Plans for Sun
Hillside Gardening Plans for Shade
Backyard Landscaping Ideas
Landscaping Pictures

Landscaping the front entry
by: Anonymous

Landscaping the front entry

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