A Different Strategy for a Sloped Garden in Pennsylvania

After years of battling slopes, this gardener is taking a different approach to her challenging landscape

Hi GPODers !

Today we ’re revisit a garden we first saw back in 2019 . Deborah McQuiston first shared her very wooded , splash mountain during the downfall with wad of fab foliation plants on exhibit ( check out that submission here : prepare a Garden in the Woods in Pennsylvania ) . Five years on and the foliage is still fantastic , but it ’s time to make some needed alteration to a garden that is very ambitious to maintain .

I ’m Deb , gardening in the Pocono Mountains in NE PA.I’m wrench 70 next year , and the challenge of assume aid of the landscaping on a incline are set in . My Libra & strength are not what they were , and the golf cleat I now wear down only help a small .

I ’ve decided that instead of pruning the groundcover evergreen of juniper and Russian cypress(Microbiota decussata , Zones 2–7)to stop them invading perennials , I ’ll get them take over and move a lot of those perennial to the flat front G , or give them to congenator . I ’ve started the process , but am now on hold until the spring so I do n’t mess up the twelve of daffodils I have implant in the front .

catch from an elevated deck , an entrancing path through Deb ’s woodland garden . A massive Japanese pieris ( Pierisjaponica , Zones 2–7 ) has some beautiful cerise foliage start to emerge on the left , while ferns , pasture , Japanese forest grass ( Hakonechloamacra , Zones 4–9 ) impart wide-ranging textures on the right .

Another flavor at that gravel path and splatter layer from above . For such a challenging spot , and for a plant life palette that consists of only greenery , Deb is not lacking for sake . She has manage to weave an unbelievable tapestry of grain .

And who really take more than some gorgeous greenery when you have all these fabulous tree and a breath - taking lake view !

At eye level , a pairing of juniper and ostrich fern ( Matteuccia struthiopteris , Zones 2–8 ) is just as compelling as from above .

On a blistering , summer solar day there are plenty of seat of respite in this garden . Take a drop in the lake , or relish in the wraith as you search the realistic planting .

Of course , aside from the challenges of steep slopes and heavy shade , a woodland garden has the supply challenge of many different types of beast cohabitating your blank . Deb name the turtleneck that burry their eggs in her garden every yr , but this particular hole is from persistent chipmunks . No matter how many time she fills it , they come back and reestablish their burrow .

And woodland nurseryman ’s most prejudicial garden client , the cervid , would do a number on any of Deb ’s potted industrial plant . Thankfully , her evoke deck lets her keep these cute plants good .

Not much to see here besides possibilities ! Deb says this “ orchard ” is the next home of the ligularia and epimedium she is relocating from her slopes . With plenty of outer space for newfangled plantings , I ’m excited to see what Deb make !

Thanks for sharing this garden update , Deb ! Love seeing you overcome these gardening challenge and accommodate your blank space for your hereafter .

Have photos to share ? We ’d love to see your garden , a finical appeal of plants you love , or a tremendous garden you had the prospect to visit !

To submit , send 5 - 10 picture to[email protected]along with some data about the plants in the word picture and where you took the photos . We ’d love to hear where you are located , how long you ’ve been garden , successes you are gallant of , failure you take from , hopes for the future tense , favorite plants , or rummy taradiddle from your garden .

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