How to design a garden when you're not a garden designer | The Impatient Gardener
How to design a garden when you're not a garden designer | The Impatient Gardener
I’m not a garden designer but I design gardens—my own and sometimes my friends gardens. Here’s my process and a sneak peek at a new garden I’m designing for this spring.
Creating a living privacy screen: https://www.theimpatientgardener.com/privacy-screen/
Planting a new patio garden: https://youtu.be/nIk5Zk-gB3U
New patio garden update: https://youtu.be/Ue5cwvJW14I
#gardendesign #gardening #TheImpatientGardener
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My name is Erin and I love sharing inspiration and information with real-life gardeners. I live and garden in southeastern Wisconsin, zone 5.
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📩 erin@theimpatientgardener.com
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The Impatient Gardener
125 E. Main St.
Port Washington, WI 53074
I know this video is a year old but I loved the content! I am in Minnesota and I started a couple of new garden spaces last fall and can hardly wait for the snow to melt so I can get planting! The info and steps you provided are such a great help to my thinking and planning process. I have my graph paper out and ready to start sketching! Thank you for sharing this great video…I am glad it popped up!
Who was the designer and the name of his book you referred to? I didnt catch it.
Erin I love the idea of a creek with a bridge that you can sit on. What do we do in our gardens? (besides work, plan, work, plan, work)
I love to paint, but I get so busy that I don’t paint. Places to sit, to contemplate and talk with out buddies about stuff – and maybe paint – that’s important.
Warmest regards
Jennie
Thank you for simplifying this process. Look forward to more.
Clearly your in the Burlington area of Wisconsin. So. How do you manage all the thistles and creeping Charlie? A low maintenance garden is the only type of garden but its almost impossible due to weeds. I’ve tried garden cloth cardboard and loads of wood mulch. I’m beginning to think all stone and just containers.
Hi! I’m a professional gardener and designer in Eastern Washington! Good video! You summed up about everything that you’re supposed to do when designing a garden, so even though you aren’t a pro you can certainly give yourself some kudos!
What was that book you showed? I’d like a copy of that. If you have an Amazon affiliate account please post a link 😉
This was so useful as I need so much help x 🙈
you can buy garden designs online
You don’t need a smaller Garden just different plants ❤🌷
Please do more 🙏 love it
Would love to watch the whole process!
I love the idea of sorting thru Pinterest photos of good curb appeal. I’ve never had a garden concept. I just buy plants I like. This idea may help me plan my landscape out. Thanks
Omg you hit the nail on the head…that is SO me..
I love your tulip pillows. Can you share where you got them?
Love to watch how you design your garden I think you’re entre garden is amazingly beautiful.
Too much waffle at the start.
And yes please, could we watch the creation unfold? Always fun to watch and learn how other folks work.
Love this type of video. Designing my large shade garden space amid all the trees ( and their roots) and the deer had been a real challenge. Would love to see the entire process!
Enjoyed the video. I would like videos on the entire process. Thank you.
Yeah considering my location 8b would think just hot plants annuals veggies but actually finding cold plants working better for me in tiny amounts less maintenance for some reason giving me more success surprisingly making it even more exciting with mix of hot for the weather solely but visually finding ways to make certain hard areas appealing. So true about a path being pointless that’s where I’m at right now too so finally a path made and now realizing need something to see 👀 cant wait. I like sitting out too this all gives me inspiration for a garden. Gardening has helped me soo much I love getting out and looking at the plants.
Did you build the bridge? I wanted one for years and it was finally built this past year. 16′ long, 6′ wide, arched. I planted rose bushes, salvia and gaillardia on either side of one end and I need to work on the opposite end but I’m unsure if I should do something different there or have it mirror the other side.
This is exactly the kind of "garden show" I’ve been looking for. My garden is very much cottage-try-some-new-plants-over-there. I’ve made a lot of mistakes and killed a lot of plants, but that’s been part of the fun for me. I’ve been having some great "aha" moments following The Impatient Gardener – can’t wait to get going when it warms up…
I can relate to what you are saying. I have a small backyard. I do not have good soil. My soil is old black clay. I have been mixing top soil and potting for nutrition.
hmm. I’m glad I saw this. I bought 12 acres with almost nothing planted in the middle of the bald prairie !
But there are overgrown hedges and a thin shelter belt of spruce.
I have to haul water as well as there are no wells in the area… Challenging , hell ya !
Deciding on a english garden near the house and within the hedges but with more grasses and native simple roses…
Venturing out will become much more naturalistic due to watering challenges ! thank you Dear Lady !
I just love listening to you talk. Yes, please take us through the process especially when you start to pick out plants for the sloped area. That is my whole yard except for around the house and there are hardly any videos on planting on slopes or hills.
Hi there
I just love your spirit, you have an awesome natural personality that is so relaxing and watch.
I love being in the garden and digging in the dirt, the same way you describe gardening.
You’re one of my favorite YouTube gardener’s to watch, my go to gal.
Such a pleasure to listen to you talk gardening.
Cheers
From a garden designer of 35 years regarding pitches to clients… I would provide what I called a "napkin sketch" unless they needed approval from HOA. Worked every time 😉
Thankyou for all your clear information 🙂
yes to Piet Outdolf and yes to the New Perennial Movement! ❤
Speaking too much result speak😁
Hey Eirin! I’m a lady from Norway who came across your video and is very excited. Will be creating a new garden after buying a slightly older property. I like your method and will follow you.
Nice Video. I’m looking for info on laying out a vegetable garden, mostly common plants, but what to plant next to each other, or not, what plants to plant around various veggies to attract good bugs to eat the bad bug’s, etc.. Thanks
Good vid. The worst is when you have shade from a tree and then you have to take the tree out and it’s full sun now on those shade plants!!!
Hi Erin, from NZ. Thanks for this – really enjoyed hearing how a niggle becomes a plan and seeing your road entrance project beginnings. Loved your patio planting too. Hoping that because I am just found this video now 19 months after it was posted that I can binge watch a transformation 🙂 Enjoyed your honesty and approach. Have subscribed.
I would live to hear more about your process. I bought a new house 2 years ago. The first year I tried to learn the environment to determine what I could do for my landscaping. Last summer I tackled flower beds and paths in my backyard. This summer I wanna start the front yard. My head keeps getting stuck at ‘curb appeal’. I took pics of my house and yard and started drawing in possible designs. I also walked out the measurements with a tape measure til my professional son could do the accurate measure. My hang up is I LOVE flowers and forget shrubs and grasses for winter interest. I also get hung knowing How many plants to put in a space. I either put too many or not enough. All your help is much appreciated! I’m trying winter sowing first time this year too. Thanks for all your videos! Ps. Love your dahlias!
Hi! New to your channel and really enjoyed this video!
i am working at landscaping so i really want to learn more about how to start up the garden from scretch in front of sarff entrance.
HI Erin. I’m a fellow WI zone 5 er living in a shaded deer playground. Do you have any ideas for me?
What do you spray for deer resistance?
Using a garden hose to outline a new bed area or walkway is very helpful for me. You can see it from different angles and adjust it easily before anything permanent goes in.
Hi Erin we are going to need to place a platform type bridge over a drainage ditch area. Did you build the one in this video or purchase it pre-made and where?
Very helpful video!
=
But make the bridge over the creek big enough, width and lengthwise because as you do look at it from the street and the sky downward……those are huge trees and quite a long area on the left…….you don’t want a rinky-dink little bridge…..it will look like a toy and as though a "homeowner " did it. Don’t get me wrong, slot of smart homeowners out there, but what I mean is sometimes things aren’t put into perspective and proportions as in the "whole" of the area or patio or room or whatever is being worked on. You have some great ideas and I like the idea of taking your time as you have said ,( a couple of years or so)….and then have things start to come together in your thinking…..
I loved the process. When I caught a glimpse of some of the plants on your list I realized I had never heard of most of them. I’ve got some work to do. I also agree totally with never planting a single of something. There needs to be groups to hold your attention. I love the pergola over the garage, I assume that you put that in. Kind regards from Vermont.
Craig
YES‼️‼️‼️
Very helpful video! Yes; more videos👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Great video. Thank you. Yes! More
Wow I was so surprised that you design your gardens the same exact way that I do! I would add that I sit inside the house and look out various windows and think what would look good out there. And I’m always moving things around when I walked by and think that would look better somewhere else. Thanks—excellent ideas, and useful as I live in the North also. Looking forward to checking out your other YouTube videos.
Too much talk ,where is the garden?