A dream garden starts with two things: an awareness of what you have to do and a solid plan for getting there. Ms. Myers gives you an overview of the step-by-step process for creating a garden, guiding you through the process of weeding old garden spaces; testing your soil; evaluating growing conditions; picking the best topsoil; using annuals, perennials, and biennials to best effect; and mapping out your garden with the space available.
Even if you’re working with a smaller, urban space (such as at a townhouse), you can still create delightful gardens. Learn how to overcome the same challenges of light and space as you would in a larger garden area. Then, focus on getting the right plants to fit your garden. Which plants make strong focal points? Which plants tolerate shade better than others? What combinations will add depth and texture to your garden? How should you best move plants when you need to adjust to unforeseen situations?
The secret to a healthy garden: soil. In this lesson, discover everything you need to know about soil and how to make it work for your dream garden. You’ll learn how soil works, how to improve the soil in your garden space, the benefits of specific soil types, how composting and mulching can strengthen the health of your garden, how and when to fertilize your plants, and—most important—the best way to plant your garden and prepare it for spring.
Visit a small-space garden and investigate tried-and-true methods for solving common planting and design problems for often stubborn areas such as deck edges, patios, and the spaces around air conditioners and gas meters. Throughout the lesson, you’ll find out some of the best choices for poorly lit areas, learn how to dodge common over- and under-watering mistakes, and more—all of it grounded in the basic science behind how light, water, and microclimates affect a garden.
Summer is the perfect time to reassess your garden and find out what you need to do to keep your plants healthy and looking their best. First, learn the tricks to effective garden maintenance throughout the season: growing more abundant harvests of fruits and vegetables, controlling pests in the most eco-friendly ways, locating the cause of discolored leaves, and more. Then, Ms. Myers takes you back to a small-space garden to gauge solutions to function, beauty, and accessibility challenges first tackled in the spring.
Explore some of the many ways you can extend your garden through fall and take advantage of the cool air and warm soil (which is great for planting a variety of trees, shrubs, and perennials). You’ll learn how to add bulbs for a splash of spring beauty, prune and protect your plants (and your lawn) from a potentially harsh winter, install a lovely cool-season garden, harvest and store herbs, and learn from your experience to plan for an even better garden in the spring.