WOODLAND RETREAT

Homeowners:      Ann + Bill Schultz

Address:  Hallwood Drive

Neighborhood:  Vollintine-Evergreen

Garden Age:   15 years

Favorite Garden Tip : Having a ‘green thumb’ is no more than paying attention to plant requirements.  Soil preparation and good drainage is at least 50% of what allows plants to flourish.  Paying attention to water and light/sun requirements for each type of plant is the other half.

Garden Philosophy:  My approach to gardening has always been to let nature take its course, so I refrain from pruning shrubbery and trees except to keep them in bounds and I let the garden naturalize.  I don’t mind most invasive type plants, either those that spread by runner or those that self sow.  This attitude comes with a price, i.e., I spend a lot of time thinning out plants to maintain some definition in the garden, otherwise my garden would look like an overgrown jungle.  I’ve even allowed a neighbor’s bamboo to invade a defined area in the back garden (yikes!) to provide a screen between a gazebo area and the greenhouse and composting area.  This required substantial work to keep it confined to a certain area.  I’ve built deep subterranean cinderblock walls that effectively keep it out of the greenhouse and the rest of the garden.  I am not a fan of turf, so I’ve created beds where turf once grew when we bought the house.  I use overhead irrigation and take advantage of the shade from towering oaks and understory trees (e.g. Japanese maples, Chinese Parasol) to cultivate moss, weeding out other grasses and weeds.  I like to create various garden “rooms” with seating areas and pathways that disappear beyond shrubs. I love aquatic plants and think water features add so much to the landscape.  I try to incorporate lots of yard art, including a large collection of Tim Pace’s scrap metal art.  Lastly, I believe an urban garden can extend to the street curb.  I have just begun digging up Zoysia in our front yard, which is the only place in the yard with full sun. I’m excited to finally plant sun-loving plants, both flowers and vegetables!!  I was encouraged to see the article in the latest Edible Memphis that is promoting this very activity and featuring some of Midtown’s gardens to the curb.