What To Do About The Trouble Spot In The Garden

Yup, looking at this picture you can just imagine that my garden is PERFECT! It must be. I have a blog and a camera, so …Perfection, right?

Actually no. I have been gardening all my life and at the ripe age of (noo… I won’t tell you that) I am still learning about what plants go where and when. We all have that one spot (or multiple spots) where we need to know, What To Do About That Trouble Spot In The garden.

Two years ago Hubby and I ripped out the lawn in the backyard. It had served it’s purpose when my kids were small, but now they are grown (teens) and no longer wanted to play in such a small space. The battle with the muddy parts, mowing the lawn, and the high water usage just weren’t worth it anymore. It was time for change.

As you can see, my backyard went through quite a change. I had broken it up into mini sections, each with its own personality. Right now I am focusing on the left side section that is mostly shade, and has very wet soil. Below is what it looks like today.

This is my trouble spot. This picture actually doesn’t make it look too bad, but in real life it’s not quite my fav. It’s a mish mash that just doesn’t work for me.

For a long time I was really frustrated with this part of my garden. I had experimented and failed so many times that I wondered if it would ever look good. Then it occurred to me, gardening is my hobby. I like to garden. I really enjoy my time alone, digging in the dirt, planting new and exciting plants, and killing weeds. That last one is very cathartic. DIE WEEDS DIE!!! Yup… peaceful. The first big change I had to make was my perception. A garden is never done, and that’s a good thing. Once I let go of the idea of the garden being done, a lot of pressure and frustration was lifted.

With a new sense of enthusiasm I was able to look at this little troubled section differently. First thing I did was identify what exactly I didn’t like about it. Once I did that I then gave myself permission to change it. I gave myself permission to yank plants out of the ground and move them to new spots. BUT YOU WILL KILL THEM!! Well, maybe, but maybe not. I was not happy with where the plants were, so what was I gaining by leaving them there? It is okay to move plants, even just an inch if you think it will add to your vision.

It is also okay to admit that a plant doesn’t work in its current location at all, and remove it completely. A few years back I had purchased five small perennials that had beautiful purple flowers the day I bought them. That first year the plants performed beautifully, and the bees and humming birds loved them. Unfortunately the following two years after I bought them, they refused to bloom at all. It just wasn’t the right spot for that plant. Initially I did not dig them up because I felt like it was a waste of money, and I had failed…again. It is okay to fail. That’s how we learn. With my new outlook I gave myself permission to dig up the non-bloomers and moved them to temporary pots in a spot of the garden I thought they might like better. This opened up the spots for plants that I knew would do well there. Just a foot away were my bright yellow Canna Lillies that were thriving. They were a little too tall for their current location, but once moved they were perfect.

The trouble spot was never in my garden, it was in my head. By changing my perception and giving myself permission to change things without feeling guilty, the frustration of my trouble spot was disappearing. The Trouble Spot Of My Garden wasn’t the location, it was my attitude. So, I will try not to get so frustrated and just enjoy the journey. In reality, I don’t want the journey to end. I want to continue to take chances, learn from my mistakes, and kill those nasty weeds. Oh.. and maybe attract a few humming birds.