As you all know, gardening is a skill I have slowly acquired, actually, very slowly, but, I am now there, and the garden is really starting to take shape. However, I doubt most people would call me a keen gardener. In fact, I know I am not. The other day I was browsing through a real estate site and realized that there are some properties around here with quite large gardens. When I came across one with a garden that was nearly four times as big as ours I swear a shiver actually ran down my spine.
That garden is certainly going to take some looking after. However, while looking at Shrubs & Hedges from The Tree Center I realized that the way to handle a big garden is to fill it with big plants. In a garden like that, you have the space to plant a couple of huge trees and reduce its width by planting a wide hedge. Something that looks so much nicer than a fence does.
Plus, there is plenty of choice, making it really easy to buy plants that add a big splash of color and create shady spots. An important consideration if you do not want a huge lawn and big flower beds to take care of. A large shade tree can really eat into the space you need to look after because very little will grow under them. This means you can easily gravel or mulch around the base and locate a table and chairs under it, so you have somewhere cool to sit on a blisteringly hot day. If you choose the right variety, you can build a tree house in the branches for the kids. Or, better still a retreat room for the adults to enjoy.
For hedging, Laurel is a great option in a large garden. There are a lot of varieties available including some that tolerate really low temperatures. Hybrid Skip Laurel shrubs can cope with -10. Plus it grows at about two feet per year. This makes it a fast way to create a hedge. However, once it is at height it will need a lot of cutting. But, provided you buy an electric hedge clipper and have a way to dispose of the clippings it should still be manageable.
In a very large garden, planting an orchard could be an option. They look lovely and the blossom smells fantastic. Even one with just 8 or 12 trees in it could keep you in fruit for most of the summer. In fact, if you buy late varieties you can stretch that into the autumn, plus, provide you store them properly; fruits like apples can keep for months. With proper care you can enjoy fruits and vegetables in your garden and use them to cook in the kitchen, thus, saving you money!
If you have the climate, citrus trees are an especially good idea. They are evergreen and produce lovely scented blossom in the spring. Lemons do not have to be picked all in one go, so you can enjoy a year round supply of those. If you would like to learn more about planting and taking care of fruit trees, you can do so here.