Carol’s Garden

Everyone Can Be An Expert Gardener.
Just Follow These Tips.

Carol Burgess

Carol Burgess comes from a family of gardeners. As a child she followed her grandmother around her yard with her own child sized gardening tools, ready to lend a hand. Her grandfather planted Dogwood Trees all over the south Atlanta area while one of her cousins, Mildred Owens, had the Shady Lady Day Lilly named after her. Carol spent time with her aunt and mother and later on with her daughters swapping stories and sharing laughs while working in the garden.

Here are Carol’s Top 10 Gardening Tips:

Aim for beauty, not perfection. Most people don’t have the time, money or energy to have the perfect yard.

Garden Sculpture

Don’t be discouraged when plants die. Even experienced gardeners lose plants. As soon as possible, remove dead plants, limbs, and trees from your property. That way, you can celebrate your success when you garden. Gardening should be fun.

Plant something special around your mailbox. Your mailbox is the first impression of your house. Here are some favorite mailbox plants that do well in the sun. Clematis (vine), yellow or white Jasmine (a fragrant vine), Firepower Nandina (a shrub that provides color in the fall and winter), Asiatic Lilies (a tall perennial with large flowers that should be planted in clusters and cut down in August) and Bearded or Siberian Irises.

Carol's Garden

Get formal. If you have a cottage garden, add formal elements such as statuary, symmetrical shrubs and fountains.

Plant like with like. Plant similar plants together in odd numbered groups.

Lily Pond

Plant for sun and shade. Plant vivid colors in the sun and paler colors in the shade to part shade.

Vary color, height, and texture. Varying the color, height, and texture of plants adds interest to your garden.

Don’t forget your house. Consider the color of the front of your house when selecting plants for your front garden.

Gardens evolve. You don’t have to get everything right the first time, gardens evolve over time whether or not you have a plan.

Experiment! Don’t be afraid to experiment. Gardening is more of an art than science. Be grateful every day that you are here to enjoy the beauty of nature.

Carol’s Favorite Trees and Plants:

Favorite Flowering Tree – Weeping Cherry Favorite Landscape Tree – Japanese Maple Favorite Evergreens: Loropetalum – This hardy shrub has purple or green leaves and is a vigorous grower. Loropetalum should be planted in the sun to semi-shade Azaleas – There are so many varieties to choose from here in the south and they come in a large variety of colors.Different varieties of azaleas bloom at different times of the year. Blue Spruce – This tree likes full sun but can struggle in the south. Favorite Perennials (Plants that return year after year): Hosta’s – There are many beautiful variegated varieties. Hosta’s should be planted in shade to part shade. Asteromia – The Asteromia has small clusters of while flowers and bloom all summer and well into the fall. They should be planted in the sun. Asiatic Lilies – Asiatic Lillies have clusters of large blooms on tall stems. They should be planted in the sun and the stalks cut down in August. Favorite Fall Interest: Little Henry Sweetspire – There is a dwarf variety that turns orange or red in the fall Autumn Clematis – The fragrant small white flowers appear on a prolific vine. They should be planted in full sun Favorite Summer Interest: Caladiums – Caladiums come in many colors and are a perfect addition to any summer garden. Favorite Winter Interest: Daphne – These temperamental flowers can be a challenge but add beautiful fragrance to a winter garden. They need to be protected from the cold and should never be transplanted. Ornamental grasses, particularly variegated grasses Hardy Ferns. Hardy ferns stay green through the winter. They should be planted in the shade Favorite Spring Interest: Lenten Roses – These plants bloom from February to April and have pale pink, white or lavender flowers. They are both hardy and drought resistant. They will multiply in clumps and should be planted in the shade to part-shade. Camellias – Camellias bloom from around February through May. They have beautiful showy blooms but are susceptible to extreme cold.

Weeping Cherry Azaleas Asiatic Lillies Caladiums and Atilbe Fountain Grass Autumn Fern Hostas