Episode 168: Rewind – Design Guidelines of Thumb with Stacie Crooks

October 12, 2024

9

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Seattle-based backyard designer Stacie Crooks creates lovely, ecologically pleasant, low-maintenance gardens all through the Pacific Northwest. Her most up-to-date article within the December 2024 problem of Tremendous Gardening journal tackles the challenges of integrating a vibrant, plant-focused backyard right into a cookie-cutter neighborhood developed throughout the post-World Battle II constructing increase. To coincide with the publication of the article, we’re revisiting this participating interview the place Stacie covers a few of the most beneficial insights she has gained by way of years of expertise. Anybody can use Stacie’s guidelines of thumb to make their very own out of doors areas extra welcoming and simpler to take care of.

Stacie’s Backyard Design Guidelines of Thumb

Establish your challenge. Ask your self “What do I wish to obtain?” and “Why do I wish to do that?” Having a transparent aim in mind- be it decrease upkeep, higher curb enchantment, or extra wildlife within the garden- will assist you to make the proper design, fashion, and plant selections.
Know your web site. Earlier than you may make any modifications, it is advisable know your limitations. Decide the backyard’s mild publicity and angles, soil sorts, drainage, topography, and measurement. Think about irrigation (should you want water, the place will it come from?) and entry (how will you get into the backyard and transfer by way of it?) Bearing all this in thoughts, set a funds.
Get impressed. Along with your targets and tips clear, it’s time for a strong plan. Individuals all the time ask, “The place do I begin?” Interact in actions that foster studying and friendships. Learn books and magazines and go to lectures. Be part of a backyard membership. Volunteer at a public backyard. Look within the newspapers and on the web for alternatives. Take notes, make lists and make sketches. Take photographs of gardens you go to and duplicate them.
No zone denial. Once you go to purchase your vegetation at your native nursery, learn the tags rigorously. Select solely that which is suited in your web site and to your way of life. If it’s not clear, ask a nursery particular person. Ensure that the quantity of care that plant wants match the time and power you may afford.
End one backyard earlier than you begin one other. Resist shopping for vegetation that aren’t in your present project- they’ll simply die ready so that you can plant them. Keep on with the checklist.
Be accountable environmentally. All the time purpose to make use of much less water, much less fertilizer, and no chemical substances. The higher you recognize your web site, the better it’s to realize success naturally. There’s an significance to NOT gardening, utilizing fewer assets and fewer labor and simply having fun with your area extra.