Garden experts offer tips to convert backyard into outdoor living room

10 years ago

 CARIBOU, Maine — Are you stumped on this year’s summer project? Why not turn your backyard into an outdoor living room? Give yourself a place to reflect and enjoy a garden while still at home.


With the snow on the way out it’s time to start planning how to transform your backyard. Kristine Bondeson from Down to Earth Gardens and Greenhouse in Caribou recommends starting with a sketch.
“Don’t become overwhelmed just look at one place. Have a goal, maybe one or two,” Bondeson said. The key to any successful project is to start small. “If there’s stress in your life [a garden] is a place you can go to and retreat. Listen to the birds, listen to the wind in the trees.”
On your sketch you should mark what already exists in your backyard or around your home and build around that. Do you wish to make your backyard more colorful? If there’s too much shade from large trees flowers and plants may not grow. If you do have large trees, you might consider hanging a hammock or maybe installing a fire pit. Patio stones leading to your outdoor living room are a nice touch — as long as they’re on level ground.
Take your sketch to your friendly neighborhood gardener. “Any greenhouse that’s worth its salt has somebody working there who knows what they’re doing. So they’re the people to consult,” Bondeson said. Talk to someone and make a modest start. Bondeson makes house calls for those in the planning stages or who’re just looking for a hand.
Be mindful of the flowers or plants you invest in. You may want to check a Temperature Zone Map before you make your next purchase. Aroostook County is in zone three. Zone maps are based on the average minimum temperatures for each area across the U.S.
According to Bondeson, geraniums are popular in her shop. They are tropical and beautiful annuals that last for the summer season. Perennials will be available as the temperatures warm up.
The life expectancy of your purchase can outweigh the cost. Are you making a long-term investment or just trying things out for a season? A flower or plant with a longer lifespan may cost a few more dollars, but be worth it in the long run.
While you’re purchasing your flowers or plants you might want to pick up some plastic and mulch. The next step on your quest to having an outdoor living room is proper maintenance.
“Sometimes what kills your garden is regular maintenance on your lawn,” Bondeson said. “You hit it with the lawn mower, you weed whack the bark. You can help yourself by cutting the sod out around [your plant]. Keeping the sod away from the base, and then mulching that.”
Once you’ve started your garden you now have to stay on top of weeds. Bondeson recommends the “five finger method” rather than using chemicals to remove any weeds. Placing a layer of plastic around your plants can help keep weeds down. Shoveling a layer of mulch on top of the plastic helps with aesthetics. “Gardening is work, but it gives back a lot of joy,” she said.
When choosing your flowers consider if you’re sending the right message. According to Bondeson, flowers have a language of their own.
“There are hundreds of different messages that you can give with flowers,” Bondeson said.
Bondeson attributes the language of flowers to the time of chivalry. “Alyssum means worth beyond beauty, coriander or cilantro mean hidden worth, geranium means comfort, and yellow violet means rural happiness,” she said. There are many meanings behind each flower. You can even declare war on your neighbor with a patch of tansy.
For those who don’t have a backyard to start their garden, have no fear, Bondeson offers tips for indoor or deck growing. Start with good soil. Make sure your pot has good drainage. Make use of a windowsill for sunlight, or at least have a light source that provides heat. You might also consider purchasing a heat mat. Don’t forget to water your plants! And be sure to stay on top of weeds; don’t let them get out of hand.
This spring Bondeson will offer workshops at Down to Earth Garden in Caribou for those who wish to learn more about the language of flowers. Bondeson’s helper and local artist, Kati Christoffel, will have a workshop later this spring on painting simple garden flowers.