We put the call out on our social media to hear from readers about how our community is adapting to challenging garden sites. From minimal land to lead in the soil, oddball corners to garden hacks, and even steep inclines, we wanted to know how everyone was making do with what they had. The responses were overwhelming, with many sharing their innovative solutions to gardening obstacles. Whether it was growing food, cultivating flowers, or just creating a beautiful alternative to mowing, our readers had a lot to say.
Eating from the Hillside
Alice Day on Foster Street is starting a new gardening project with the help of her family. She’s digging out a hill to create six new garden beds for vegetables. Thanks to the hard work of her adult kids, partners, friends, and goddaughter, they were able to transform the steep incline into a productive growing space. Lalitha Mailwaganam on Liberty Street has also terraced her steep incline into different sections, maximizing the small amount of land she has. She grows perennial flowers, vegetables, and even enjoys watching pollinators in her garden.
No Mow Hillsides
Didi Brush on Liberty Street transformed her once unproductive hill covered in blackberry bushes into a beautiful garden with ground covers, perennials, stone walls, and a bronze sculpture. John Snell in Montpelier hasn’t mowed his lawn in decades, opting to plant a variety of plants instead of grass. He enjoys the vibrant colors, textures, and bird sightings in his yard. Additionally, he’s planted over two dozen trees, including a tamarack that has grown significantly over the years.
Moon Garden
Elizabeth Robechek in West Berlin has created a stunning moon garden with white, silver, and light blue flowers and foliage. The garden is designed to be enjoyed under the light of the moon, with seat stones, a fire pit, and various plants offering structure and beauty. This garden serves as a gift to Robechek after years of designing landscapes for others.
Strawberry Pebbles Forever
Liza Earle-Centers shared a clever trick to keep birds away from her ripe strawberries by painting pebbles red and placing them in the strawberry patch. The birds get confused and peck at the stones instead of the juicy berries. She also has a helpful tip for dealing with cucumber bugs by catching them at night when they’re sluggish. Barbara Bruno in Montpelier adds fish scales, bones, shrimp shells, and eggshells to planting holes to provide slow nutrient release for her veggies. She also uses cayenne pepper to ward off animals from her plants.
Not really sure why this matters, but gardening on challenging sites can lead to some truly creative solutions. Maybe it’s just me, but I feel like reading about how people are overcoming obstacles in their gardens can be inspiring. Who knew that painting pebbles red could trick birds or that planting trees could transform a once-mowed lawn into a colorful paradise? It’s these small details and unique approaches that make gardening truly fascinating. So, next time you’re faced with a tough gardening situation, remember that there’s always a creative solution waiting to be discovered.
