Post Magazine: The Constant Gardener

In the back yard of Post garden editor Adrian Higgins, you'll find buzzing bees, a lively pond and a vision being continuously, laboriously revised.

As part of the Spring Home and Design issue ofThe Washington Post Magazine, Adrian Higgins gives a personal garden tour.

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Stafford, Va: Is your garden ever featured on a garden tour?

I have lived at my 3+ acre Stafford home for 15 years and have one section left to transform. I'm looking at putting in a large stone patio with a water feature. I would love a pond but think it would be too hard to maintain. Do you have some other suggestions?

Adrian Higgins: I have done two video tours of the garden that have appeared on the website. Also, the two how-to slide shows, also on the site, were photographed in the garden. My advice on ponds is this: If you are going to put in a pond, a large one, ironically, is easier to care for than a small one. But that is still work and expense. One trick is to create a "river" of stone and then have a recirculating fountain as its source. You can also plant certain plants that symbolize water, such as the hakone grass planted behind my wall.

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Falls Church, Va.: I was interested to hear that drainage was an issue for you. We moved into our house last year, and I have concerns that the backyard drainage is damaging the side yard. Whom does one consult about drainage issues? A landscaper? A contractor? A dowser?

Adrian Higgins: Maybe all three. Drainage is an issue for everyone in our clay soil. If you're lucky your problems can be solved by putting an extension pipe on your down spout. At the other end of the scale, you may need to install French drains. A contractor can do this, a competent landscape designer or landscape architect can do it in a way that also contributes to an aesthestic improvement. I will be writing more on this topic this spring.

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Fairfax Va: Adrian, you and other professional gardeners say that to keep weeds down in the lawn, you need thick grass. How do you get thick grass? When you fertilize, the weeds grow faster and thicker too!! Is there a secret to encouraging grass while discouraging weeds at the same time? Thank you.

Adrian Higgins: I think there are three basic reasons grass goes thin, people walk on it a lot, it is suffering from shade and, most of all, the soil it grows in has become compacted. The best long term strategy for weed avoidance is a good core aeration once a year, with a thin layer of screened compost to back fill the plugs areas.

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Arlington, Va: I was interested in that tree that was featured in one of the photos in your story. I had some fruit on it but I could not tell what it was. It looked very lush and interesting--can you tell me more about it?

Adrian Higgins: This is an Asian persimmon variety named Fuyugaki. The tree is self fertile, bears after about four years, and the fruit ripens orange red in late October. We use it to make sorbet.

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Columbia, Md: My mom wants a book on hostas for Mother's Day. Do you have any suggestions for good books on this plant?

Adrian Higgins: Timber Press is a publisher of horticultural books, they have at least two on hostas, and both would be useful. Make sure your mother is not afflicted by deer, unless she just wants to see pictures of hostas.

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Falls Church, Va.: Off-topic, but what can I do about dandelions?

Adrian Higgins: It depends on the level of infestation. If your entire lawn is covered with them, it maybe time to start again in September. The key to beating back any weed is to break its cycle of reproduction. Dandelion is perennial, but you want to make sure that none of the blooms mature, even if you haven't got around to pulling them. You can use herbicides, I don't like to use them for various reasons. They can lead to the decline of shade trees in certain circumstances. I would invest in a fish tail weeder, which is essentially a bent screwdriver whose tip bifurcates. You can plunge that alongside the taproot and remove the whole weed quite easily and quickly.

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Stafford, VA: Adrian, you talked about keeping bees on your property--

and I saw the photo of you at your hives in the online version

of the story. I was fascinated by this--it is hard to keep

bees, and how many hives can someone manage in a

suburban garden?

Adrian Higgins: Different jurisdictions have different rules. On smaller properties in Fairfax County, for example, I believe the limit is four hives. It's a lot of work and there are inevitable setbacks. I got two of my three hives through a difficult winter, so I feel pretty good about that. It's a facinating hobby, but it is not an undemanding one and with increased problems of pests and diseases, the attention they need is getting greater.

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Indianapolis, Ind.: Hello Adrian,

your article was a delight and an inspiration. Yesterday I checked on all the plants I put in last year (having only lived in my house 1 year) and found to my disappontment that many were probably dead. Butterfly bushes (aren't they considered extremely hardy?), clematis, trumpet vines, hibiscus. An investment for someone like myself on a tight budget. But your patient account on how long it takes to establish a garden gave me the inspiration to try, try again.

Adrian Higgins: Wonderful, thanks. I wouldn't count your plants out yet. Buddleia can takes winter temps down to - 20 (on paper at least) and the others are hardy too. Wait a while for some regrowth. I was in Boston at the weekend and amazed that the spring was a good month behind us in Washington this year.

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Bethesda, Maryland: Speaking of Mother's Day (per a previous question): Can you

recommend a plant to give my mom in a pot that can be

transferred to a permanent spot outdoors?

Adrian Higgins: I wouldn't give her an azalea or hydrangea if it's for outdoor transplanting because the greenhouse raised varieties are not ones selected for garden use, by and large. If you wanted to be clever, you could go to a nursery and buy a small garden variety hydrangea not in bloom, wrap it nicely and write something treacly like: Mom, I thought this plant would remind you of me because it needs nurturing when young but will bloom for years to come.

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Waldorf, MD: You said in your story that you have tried a lot of bulbs over

the years. Any advice on what's worth the effort--that is,

daffodils, tulips, etc? I find tulips are great but don't come

back reliably, whereas the daffs just keep multiplying. Any

other ideas for bulbs? Also, when should I order them?

Adrian Higgins: One tulip that does come back and always gets a lot of comments is a dainty variety named Cynthia. Daffodils are unbeatable.

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Woodbridge, VA: Mr. Higgins, Thanks for a wonderful article. I agree with the notion that one's own garden is one's favorite. Mine is very basic - just a small foundation garden around the front door - but it is mine and I can envision, dream and plan about how I want it to grow and evolve. One question, we live is a new construction home with 2 pine trees (about 10 foot) and 1 sycamore (about 20 feet). They have stakes holding them upright from when they were planted last year. How long do we need to leave the stakes up? Thanks and have a great day!

Adrian Higgins: Usually two years is enough for them to establish root systems that will anchor them. It is important to remove the stakes so that the guy wires don't strangle the trunks. You should check for this now anyway, before spring growth.

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Petersburg, Va: Adrian --

The story of your garden was most inspirational and timely! We often refer to our backyard as our "timeshare" as it has consumed much time and money, but offers a vacation getaway out the back door in return -- so enjoyed your comment in this vein. Hope that you will write a "part 2" with more pictures (show the Japanese maple!) and more about the trees and shrubs you're using.

Adrian Higgins: Yes, that would be nice. Obviously it is not possible with limited space in print to show every aspect of the garden, or to show it at every shining moment of the year. I feel lucky that we used Roger Foley for the photography. Roger came to the garden I think on two occasions. He likes to be there before dawn and capture the light when it is soft and low. The plants then are backlit superbly.

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Alexandria, VA: I was interested to read that you find maintaining a pond to

be one of the more onerous tasks in a garden. Amen to that!

My tiny pond is a royal pain--leaves, algea, plant problems,

biological problems and so on. On the other hand, it's a

wonderful feature for my yard. Any advice on how to keep it

simple? Or should I just resign myself to constant

maintenance?--CK

Adrian Higgins: I think as I say in the story, the pond industry is now huge and like every other aspect of consumer products, you get the sales pitch that these ponds are easy. They are not easy, they require a very good filtration system and a level of maintenance that a lot of people are unwilling to provide. But to have such a feature is an amazing enrichment of one's garden. It draws wildlife, and it allows you to grow plants that you otherwise could not.

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Washington, DC: What are your favorite plants in your garden? Specifically, your favorite single specimen (tree or shrub), as well as your favorite perennial that you can plant in masses?

Adrian Higgins: Great question. I would have to say the prime specimen is a species crape myrtle (Largerstroemia faurei) which I have sculpted over the years with my pruners. As a massed perennial I do like the Mrs Rob's Bonnet spurge and the daylilies on the hillside.

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Annandale, VA: Adrian, I worked with you when you were with Garden Design at ASLA.

When is it too late to divide a hosta? I have some in the front yard that are 7-8 inches high that I want to move to back (where it is shadier).

Thanks.

p.s. keep up fine writing.

Adrian Higgins: Great, now I'm guessing your identity. You could divide a hosta now but very carefully and with a sharp knife. The key is not to damage the furled "horns", the leaves that are now growing. The better time would be in early fall, when it wouldn't matter if you damaged the leaves. If you do it now, I would give the plants a nice mulch of compost, keep an eye out for slugs, and provide lots of water in the weeks ahead.

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Rockville, MD: Hi Adrian. You have obviously collected a lot of plants over

the years. What were your worst--and best--choices of

plants? Also, where do you get your plants? Local nurseries?

Mail order?

Adrian Higgins: Probably the worst was an aruncus, which looked really great at Sissinghurst and like death warmed over under the big holly trees. Finally it looked like death not warmed over. The best? I think putting sweetbox in the same area of dark, dry shade, coddling it, and seeing it grow and expand. I get plants from all over the place, a lot from mail order nurseries, some from local garden centers, and some even at the big box stores. For space reasons in the story, I was unable to make a point that I wanted to make, which was that many of the plants in my garden are gifts from friends over the years. Those obviously have special associations for me.

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Old Town Alexandria, Va: Last fall we planted two small otto luyken laurels to provide screening for our basement windows. They are now flowering like crazy. Should we deadhead these blooms, or prune the branchs, to encourage more aggresive growth this spring/summer? Are there other steps we can take to encourage growth? Thank you!

Adrian Higgins: They don't need deadheading or pruning much. They suffer in drought and flood, so the key is to give them a rich, evenly moist setting and perhaps a little mulch of compost at this time of year.

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Glover Park, Washington, DC: Hi Adrian, great article. I just bought a house and the postage stamp front yard is somewhat marred by an 8 foot boxwood that has never seen pruning sheers -- it has gone completely wild. Should I prune it or just tear the thing out? If I prune it, when should I do it? It is showing new growth so it's very much alive. Thanks!

Adrian Higgins: A lot of people would go nuts for an 8 foot boxwood, even a big one like the tree box, or American box. They can be moved, perhaps you have a friend who would take it.

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Fredericksburg, VA: I see lots of bees in my suburban garden, including the boring bee (which is indeed a bit dull) and most of them seem to be pollinating flowers - at least, they fly into and out of the flowers. Can they still pollinate even if they're not honeybees? thanks for a great article and your continually great column!

Adrian Higgins: Other bees (and flies, moths, beetles and wasps) do pollinate, but the honeybee is by far the most efficient because a hive contains literally tens of thousands of foraging females constantly searching for pollen and nectar. As part of their mysterious ways of communicating, they inform each other of food sources through this amazing figure of eight dance that perhaps a lot of people have heard of, but to actually see it on a frame of bees is a deeply moving and humbling experience.

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Freising, Germany: Do you have any experience with Dogwood trees? We used to have one with read and white blooms in the backyard and a few grew in the park across the street. As a young child, I remember that they were magnets for hummingbirds.

Are there varieties that would grow and bloom in a European climate in the Munich area?

Adrian Higgins: I think both the flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) and others, Cornus mas, Cornus contraversa, Cornus kousa and Cornus alternifolia, would all work for you.

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LB, College Park: Wow -- your garden is gorgeous. What an ecosystem! My question is a basic one -- how do you care for your grass? Do you use any sort of weed treatment or pesticide?

Adrian Higgins: I do use a minimum of synthetic fertilizer, though I am thinking of going organic wholly, and also crabgrass preventer, but other than that I don't use any chemicals. I believe the core aeration and the compost dressing do the trick. The weeds are pulled by hand by the loyal undergardener.

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Arlington, VA: How do your neighbors feel about your wild flower meadow?

Adrian Higgins: Most of the garden is hidden from view, and the naturalistic plantings of perennials and biennials, while beautiful, exist on a hill somewhat removed from the street. The front garden, essentially a lawn, is in woeful need of development and that will be my next priority (or one fo them).

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Silver Spring, Md: Adrian, great article. I've finally decided to get a garden and other landscaping done after being in the house for more than four years. I'm curious about lawns, though. Is it truly too late to reseed my lawn? I've been unsure because of the weather, however, I've been told that I should wait till September. It's a big lot and having a new lawn would really make a difference.

Thanks...

Adrian Higgins: I would wait until September for a big makeover. It has finally turned hot, and we know how tough that can be on grass seedlings. Thanks for all your questions. I hope you enjoyed the article and be assured that my garden is going to be part of my writings for years to come. What I really wanted to convey was that this is a part of one's life, it's not something you rush out and do. I am also online as part of my regular Home section gig tomorrow at 11 a.m. Keep those questions and comments coming.

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