LARGE overgrown garden... what and when and how?

9 years ago

I saw a few posts similar to mine... bought a house, it belonged to a little old lady who loved to garden until her health wouldn't let her, it's run wild for about 5 years. Lots and lots of garden. It was all either a.) completely overgrown with weeds and the hardier flowers, or b.) completely overgrown with English Ivy 3 inches thick.

Most of them, I can manage given enough time and labor, it's just a matter of thinning and moving things. I'm a garden newbie (I'd say my thumb is yellow, on the green to black scale) and the parts I have cleared this year bounced back nicely. Her preference for flowers seemed to be hardy, spreads like a champion, and attracts hummingbirds. Bonus points if it's purple.

The back yard is the problem. I have drawn a map, green I have gotten up to snuff, yellow is waiting. I have hill, about 10 feet deep, that runs the property line on the back. At the top are some trees for a natural fence (which they mangled right before they put the house on the market) overrun by ivy. I'll put pics in another post, since I seem to be able to only add one right now.

We needed to see what was there, so we let it grow this summer. It made a nice little jungle for the dogs, but it's a LOT of real estate to just let go. There's a lot of pretty virulent stuff in there, there's not even a hint as to what the original design was. I'm also not sure I have the time to maintain that much garden even if I get it back. We're talking about getting rid of everything but the fence, and getting it back to grass. I have to assume the roots are ferocious though.

It's a big garden to smother. Do we have to weed whack, and mow, first? Will doing it in sections work, or will things just creep back over since the garden is so large? Should I do it in the fall, or the spring? I have seriously considered the "kill it with fire" approach. Any thoughts on garden vs. lawn? A well maintained garden would be pretty but she supposedly spent 8 hours a day maintaining everything in the yard, and I... will not be retiring for a while.

Featured Answer

Laurie (8A)

7 years ago

last modified: 7 years ago

There looks to be some interesting curious plants in what once must have been the ladies pride and joy. You could contact a local Master Gardener to identify things. If it were mine, I would be excited. I would clear and amend a spot to move the perennials I wanted, and then weed and amend the empty spot, and so on, one section at a time. I am in a similar yard this year, minus all the plants. I hope you find you have some real treasures in that jungle.

If you don't already have all the tools you need, don't be cheap when you purchase pruners and loppers. A good tool for this task is worth it, both in time and effort.

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Comments (8)

ScarlettAnne
Original Author
9 years ago
One view.
ScarlettAnne
Original Author
9 years ago
Another.
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ScarlettAnne
Original Author
9 years ago
One more.
pomona_MA
9 years ago
Yes, it looks like quite a project. I know you are asking about strategies for dealing with what's already there, and people can certainly help you with this. But I think you should first concentrate on what you would LIKE to be there. I'm not sure you want to "restore" as much as you want to "change" the garden. Don't assume the lady ever made a design. Lots of people just keep adding plants to their yard over the years without any overall vision -- they just like working in the garden and they like particular plants. You should feel free to change everything if you wish. That said, I would want to know what kinds of elements you would like to have in your space--shade, privacy, color, vegetables, recreation, etc.--before tackling the present overgrown hillside. What would make YOU happy with this space given your time and budget? In my experience having a positive goal makes the hard work of digging out, pulling out, and transplanting a lot more doable. Once you formulate a vision (even if it's a general one), I'd recommend identifying the worst weeds and the biggest plantings. You can post close-ups if you can't identify them yourself. This will help posters advise you on overall strategy and give you specific tips. Also, what region and zone are you located in? Yard orientation? Good luck!
P.S. I've found Sara Jane von Trapp's The Landscape Makeover Book: How to Bring New Life to an Old Yard (Taunton Press, 2000) helpful for such projects.
jim_1 (Zone 5B)
9 years ago
I agree. Where is north? Is that chain link fence yours?

There was a person whose knowledge was great when it involved landscape issues. His comment was that a weed is something that grows where you don't want it.

There are probably lots of weeds there. You need to decide how many you want gone. Close up photos would help us to help you.

Jim
eibren
9 years ago
Your most usable perennials seem to be shown in the photo that accompanies your third post.

One immediate fall strategy might be to simply mow the better perennial areas and see what they look like next spring.

Few gardens look good in all seasons unless constantly worked at, but mowing the areas that can be mowed instantly, by contrast, makes a garden look better.

Additionally, you would be amazed what a bit of judicious pruning can do to improve the appearance of neglected shrubs.
Vaporvac Z6-OhioRiverValley
7 years ago
I agree with Laurie. I have huge yard also. It's best to work on one section at a time weeding. Then see what you have. A mature landscape is hard to come by and certainly looks less sterile than grass and a chainlink fence. Once it's in order, the plants choke out the weeds and then you can just enjoy the beauty. If you're dead set on getting rid of it, perhaps you could let people dig up the plants. They're so expensive to buy. I've built my garden on others cast-off and really appreciated the chance to have them so cheaply.

I totally understand time constraints. Ivy is the worst, If you don't want to dig it out by the roots, mow it, let it grow back a it and zap it with brush killer. I dug most of mine out, but have use this technique for the easily accessible patches.