Seven Steps to Your Garden Sanctuary

 Sometimes it is hard to figure out how to start a task that you have wanted to tackle for a long time, I suggest that you start small. These seven steps will help your project go well.
Step One: Find your style. You may know this already and even if you do, this fun activity can get those wheels turning.  Hit some of the websites available for inspiration, Pinterest, and Houzz.com, and Garden Design Magazine online are great places to start.  You will find that your garden personality starts to emerge as you create pin boards and idea books.  You’ll notice repeating patterns in your taste.  Be sure you take note of features you want to include like a fire pit or comfy hammock.
Step Two: Decide what area of your yard you want to start on – I’d suggest doing a bed at a time.  Check through those photos now and see which elements and features should be included in this area.  Measure and sketch out your area.
Step Three: Plant research.  Look up plants online in your Western Garden book etc., and decide which ones you want to include in your area.  Make sure that you note their MATURE size and group the plants by sun exposure and water requirements. Now comes the culling.  You want to keep the plants that have the same sun and water requirements together – the others will be saved for another irrigation zone.
Step Four: Go to your local nursery and make sure you like the plants “in person” ask questions – the nursery employees are a font of information.  Go home and cull the list again.
Step Five: Demo – fix everything underneath where you are planting.  That means cleaning up, fixing grading, drainage, and irrigation.  Amend the soil and prepare for planting.
Step Six: Planting and placement. This is a great time to enlist the help of someone that really knows what they are, you want to be sure that all features and plants are properly placed. Having great flow, harmony, and unity key to a successful design.
Step Seven: Enjoy your creation for a season; then revisit the process adding new plants each season to create a year-round garden.
If this seems daunting or you just want a partner in crime – think about calling me in to help you design a space, a yard, a garden, or your whole property. I have a great team I’ve put together and I’d love to help you design the garden sanctuary of your dreams!
Julie Molinare is a Certified Landscape Designer living in the Santa Clarita for over 15 years. Julie taught the Introduction to Landscape Design Class @ CSUN Tseng College of Extended Learning and is Owner/Designer of The Grass Is Always Greener Designs 661-917-3521 www.thegrassisalwaysgreener.net  take a look at my portfolio and blog posts!