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Bernadette Moyer 610-283-7530 phone 610-825-1660 fax Completed Landscape Design Certificate Program at Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania Graduated Pennsylvania Horticultural Society's Tree Tenders program Member of the Association of Professional Landscape Designers Actively participating in courses in horticulture and landscape design Designer of vendor displays featured on QVC
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~Before & After Photos~
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Unearthing Possibilities ..For Your Seasonal Dream Garden
~Garden Post~ Autumn 2008 Autumn is the perfect time to take stock of your garden. Without all the pressures and stress of spring, you can sit back, relax and take a good look around. Take a stroll around your garden observing what worked and what may have gone wrong. Settle into a comfy spot with your favorite beverage and jot down a few notes. Using the list below will help you organize your thoughts. Whether you choose to tackle future projects on your own or decide to use our services, reviewing your garden now will bring you that much closer to realizing your dream garden.
q What Worked – Can you pinpoint at least one section of your garden that works really well? Doing so will help you realize what your style of gardening is, as well as what truly grows well in your conditions. Viewing your garden in small sections makes it easier to identify the areas that need your attention. q What Went Wrong - Take a look at what you’re growing and how it’s growing. Plants that are all squeezed in together will never dry off enough to fight fungal disease during humid summers. Give your plants some room to breathe and consider incorporating disease resistant varieties into your landscape. If insects are bugging you, keep in mind that they thrive on stressed out plants. Stress-proof your plants by performing a soil test and using the recommendations that come with it. This will help plants receive adequate amounts of nutrients needed for plant health. Other benefits, such as minimizing fertilizer runoff into the environment and cost savings from applying only what your plants need, are also good reasons for taking a soil test. If proper watering is an issue, you may want to consider installing an irrigation system. q Timing is Everything - Did your flowers bloom when you were there to enjoy them? This isn’t just a question for vacation home owners. If you’re at work all day and only get to enjoy your garden in the evening, think about incorporating a moon garden that can be enjoyed on warm, summer nights.
q Going the Distance - Very few plants offer continuous blooms. Most annuals will provide color throughout the summer, but what about the rest of the year? Take into account the sequence of bloom in your garden. Having the whole garden in bloom all season is an unattainable goal. It’s more realistic to have different plants at their peak at different times of the season. Other interesting aspects to consider are colorful foliage, unique shapes and interesting bark will help give your garden four seasons of interest. q Right Plant, Now What - Even with the most careful planning you can still have misplaced or over-achieving plants. Take note of shrubs or trees that may be too big for the space allotted and perennials that have grown beyond their boundaries. In some cases, pruning will reign in the shrubs and dividing will address the prolific perennial situation. Other options include relocating or removal. If your impatiens and begonias withered in the hot, afternoon sun, look for a shadier spot that would be more suitable for next year. q Weeds - If you’re like most of us, WEED is a four-letter word. Spring can get so busy with more than just gardening projects that, before we know it, our garden is overrun with weeds. Once this happens, you’re faced with an uphill battle for the rest of the summer. If you don’t have a chance to do anything else in the spring, make it a point to spread a 1” – 2” layer of mulch in your beds. This will greatly reduce weed production. To take it one step further, apply the recommended amount of Preen® Weed Preventer to reduce weed seed germination.
q Too Many Veggies, Not Enough Neighbors – Did your springtime splurge on vegetable plants come back to haunt you in September? How many times have you vowed not to plant more than a couple of tomato plants only to find yourself leaving anonymous deliveries at your neighbor’s door? If you had trouble keeping up with the work of a big garden last year, consider trying an Intensive Gardening technique. Often gardeners can grow just as many vegetables in half the usual space by using intensive techniques. Once the soil preparation is done, half the space means half the amount of time for watering, weeding, etc. A little research can go a long way in this area. Contact us if you’re interested in finding out more about Intensive Gardening. q Put Your Feet Up - As much as you may enjoy working in your garden, you need to take time to stop and smell the roses. Entertaining family and friends gives you a chance to share your dream garden. If you don’t have a seating area in your garden, now is the time to start planning. Mild winter temperatures have extended the hardscape installation season and some contractors offer discounts for ‘off-season’ jobs. Whether it’s a small table and chairs, a couple of Adirondack chairs or a stone patio with a fire pit, if you build it, they will come. Nothing pulls guests into the garden faster than a chair with a view.
q Gardening Gods Got You Down - Did some plant or task annoy you so much, you started to dread going out in the garden? It happens to the most enthusiastic gardener: a plant that that takes hours to deadhead, tall flowers that knock over their stakes, tomatoes that cracked or turned black or just never turned red. The quickest way to turn your frown upside down is to get rid of problematic plants. Whatever it is, it’s not worth the aggravation. There are literally millions of plants out there. Find a substitute and put the joy back in gardening. q Still Not Sure What the Problem Is - Can’t quite pinpoint the problem, but you’re just not happy with the looks of things? Maybe it’s time to enlist the help of a professional. Your Dream Garden, Inc. specializes in bringing affordable design solutions to clients in the greater Delaware Valley. Centrally located in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, we work closely with our clients through every step of the design process and integrate form and function into every design. Through personal attention and on-site consultation our design process helps clients take their dreams further and make it a thriving reality.
And remember...
There is no spot of ground, however arid, bare or ugly,
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