Garden Renovation Should Be Boring
Garden renovation, when done right, should be a slow, thoughtful process - quite the opposite of quick transformations on home renovation shows. Occasionally, I watch a home renovation show from Mississippi. I like that they transform forgotten and forlorn Southern buildings. But before the “reveal,” I have to turn it off, or else I’ll be rolling my eyes at the thoughtless, shoddy landscape 'renovation.’
Picture that part of it. The wide-eyed TV hosts throw their arms wide and say, "We've given you TONS of curb APPEAL!!!!!!" they gush while revealing seven gold-leaf privet bushes glowing in mulch that looks like cupcake icing.
I know they're doing the best they can. (FYI – I don't believe that for a minute. Tom makes me say stuff like that, so I don't sound 100% grump.)
Those shows and most landscapers deal with old landscapes poorly. Ancient camellias, hollies, and tea olives are treated in one of two misguided ways.
First, they may shear the over-shorn shrubs yet again. That would compound the existing problem, furthering the likelihood of pests and reducing the amount of flowers. It would be damned embarrassing for the venerable old camellias that should be allowed to revel in their graceful years.
Worse, too many old landscapes get bulldozed and sent to the dump. So much for sustainability.
Not only do we loose spectacular plants and history, we get those sad, boring modern landscapes around old homes. It happens way too much with camellias. Established camellias hold soil, store carbon, nourish pollinators, and do not need extra irrigation and fertilizer. There's no way bulldozing these to the dump can be more sustainable than making them healthy.
Yesterday’s Real Life Reno Done Right
Yesterday, three gung-ho and diry guys and I did an actual renovation project. It's not made for TV, not rushed, and filled with respect for what there is and what it can be returned to.
We took over this job from another company that wanted to tear out the 1950s landscape. It’s mostly camellias and a few tea olives that have been sheared into balls. We want to save them; they are history. They are as relevant, important and critical to maintaining the history and character of any house, as are transom windows, wood floors or crown molding.
For the past few weeks,
Cole, Maverick, Lucas, and I have been reviewing summer rejuvenation pruning of large shrubs. It's been hands-on work.
Lucas even did some major pecan tree pruning with the 60-foot boom. He catches onto pruning quickly – he's had classes that taught him about plant responses. I watched him teach a younger intern about spirea pruning - totally taking his new knowledge and relating it in a way I never could.
Lucas, our official intern, is in Horticulture at Augusta Tech. Maverick graduated from UGA and is planning a military career. But in the interim, "I want to be out on the farm. I grew up outside, playing, boating, hunting. Last weekend, I was on the lake with my dog." Things like official training, horticulture classes, or even years of working on a landscape crew mean less and less to me. Passion and personality surpass all.
Cole's leading the charge today. He and I have partnered up to prune many plants over the years. Cole and I share a style; he knows the goal here is to leave these camellias healthier a bit looser, and more romantic. Honestly, these guys did all the work.
Then, when we come back for the next phases, we'll do the TV host thing, throwing our arms out wide, exclaiming with anime-enthusiasm, poking fun at home reno hosts. Cole's better at that kind of drama than I am.
We’ll return satisfied that we took a forlorn old Southern beauty and brought her into a new, golden age.
We, like all real gardeners, just do it slowly— it makes not make for exciting TV before and after reveals, but it makes for great gardens.