My original intention this past weekend was to weed the front gardens. Before I started working, I grabbed my absolute favorite weeding tool – the Cobrahead Weeder that I purchased from Gardener’s Supply Company several years ago. This tool is amazing at getting under the roots and helps me get rocks out from the soil.
This tool is the best – it can act like a garden hoe and is able to get under roots and rocks. Weeding goes much faster with this tool.
While weeding, I realized I need to not only weed the beds, but also needed to pull the rocks out, weed and reset them for a cleaner edge. It is so important to have a nice clean edge around a garden. A neat border does not have to be fancy, but it does need to be clean so the garden looks tidy. Grab a spade and slice through grass roots while pulling out weeds and overgrown grass.
Since we have very rocky soil and several beds, I use rocks that I dig up and stack them to make a casual garden border. It’s free and adds a rustic touch to my gardens.
(Posts on stacyling.com may contain affiliate links. Click HERE for full disclosure.)
Before Edging the Garden Border
When I originally took this photo, I thought the perennial border looked so gorgeous. But the more I looked at it, I quickly realized the edge looked like a hot mess!
After Edging the Garden Border
Notice how well defined the garden edge is and how the rock border compliments the flowers. What a difference!Coral Bells, Dahlias, Catmint, Cleome, Pansies, Euphorbia, Marigolds, Salvia, Knockout Roses, Alliums and Arborvitae.
Koda loves to say hi while I’m working.
Front Garden
I spent most of this week working in the front gardens weeding, edging and adding some annuals to the borders.
I love how much neater the front perennial garden looks! The blooms shown are Catmint, Pansies, Dianthus, Alliums, Dahlias, Marigolds, Euphorbia, Salvia and Cleome. Echinacea, Black-Eyed Susans, Tall Phlox, Sedum and Globe Thistle are growing and filling in.While weeding this border, hummingbirds frequently visited this catmint. They are amazing to watch!Marigolds, Pansies, Dianthus, Euphorbia, Dahlias, and Salvia are blooming in this garden vignette. The Sedum I recently dug, divided and transplanted is growing nicely. The Tulip and Daffodil bulbs are starting to die back.Koda and I are taking a break from weeding to enjoy the front perennial border.
Well Garden
I don’t photograph this garden often because it doesn’t really start doing much until the Peonies bloom. I recently added some annuals to the border and included more Marigolds, Euphorbia and Petunias. Since the Petunias I added to the front perennial border were sold out, I opted for this pretty orangey-yellow-pink variety to change it up a little.
Petunias, Euphorbia, Marigolds, Butterfly Weed, Dwarf Alberata Spruce, and Daylillies.Since my kids have grown and don’t use it anymore, I added their Red Flyer tricycle to this border. I love seeing it here – reminds me of when they were little. Shown here: Petunias, Marigolds, Euphorbia, Zebra Grass, Smoke Tree, Tall Phlox, Coreopsis, and Bearded Iris.This photo was taken a few days before the Peonies started blooming. Shown are Smoke Tree, Zebra Grass and Peonies.The Peony show is about to begin! I love these gorgeous blooms. They make great cut flowers and smell wonderful!I love how the pink Peony blooms compliment the purple Smoke Tree Foliage.This bed has shrubs and perennials that bloom in a variety of colors. It has more orange blooms than most of my other borders, so I added these pretty orangey-yellow-pink petunias to compliment future blooms.
Mailbox Garden
The Jackmanii Clematis that grows up the mailbox was more of a struggle this year because it wanted to grow on the ground more than up the mailbox. It has some flower buds ready to go, so this vine should start blooming sometime in the next week. Also shown are the two Sedums I dug and divided a few weeks ago, Daylillies, Petunias, and Euphorbia.I love these pretty purple, yellow and white Petunias. The yellow Marigolds compliment them well. Also shown here is Clematis, Euphorbia and Daylillies.View of my front borders from the street. Notice how the newly edged and rejuvenated rock border compliments the gardens and makes the plants pop.
Backyard Gardens
The backyard gardens were a little neglected this week. Although we did use our new fire pit quite a bit over the last week! Next week, I’ll turn my attention to the backyard to weed and rebuild the rock borders.
Early evening view from the new fire pit area. Shown here is Soloman’s Seal, Hostas, Bearded Iris, Mugo Pine, Variegated Dogwood and my vegetable bed in the background.The white Siberian Iris is putting on quite a show in front of the vegetable garden.Variegated Hostas, Lilac, Variegated Wiegela, and some potted annuals.The Climbing Hydrangea is starting to bloom!These are the first Peonies to bloom on my property!One of the Peonies I have in the backyard border never bloomed since planted…until this year! Look at this one! So pretty.Shown here is Spirea, Plume Poppy and Viburnum.Dark Horse Wiegela, Plume Poppy, Spirea and Viburnum.I planted a few Willows a few years ago. They are taking off and doing well this year!The Blueberries are coming! It is so exciting to grow your own food. Berries are so delicious when picked fresh!
Sources
The following list contains source information and some affiliate links. For more information regarding affiliate links, please see my Disclosure/Privacy.
I purchased my weeding tool from Gardener’s Supply. As of today, they do not have them in stock. However, I found it on Amazon (paid link).
Final Thoughts
I hope you enjoyed this week’s garden tour and appreciate you joining me. If you missed a few tours or want to see how much the garden has changed, you can see it here:
Do you love to garden too? I would love to hear about it and see some photos. Please leave your ideas, comments & more below or contact me here. Be sure to find me @bricksnblooms on Pinterest,Facebook and Instagram! And feel free to tag me on any photos you post so I can enjoy your garden too!
Thank you for following along and touring the gardens with me. Happy planting – enjoy your day! xo
The Bricks ‘n Blooms Guide to a Beautiful and Easy Care Flower Garden
Have you never met a plant you couldn’t kill?
Have you dug around in the dirt with nothing to show for it except a sunburn and a sore back?
Do you currently enjoy growing flowers, but are looking for more tips and ideas to level up your gardening game?
Stacy Ling is author of the best selling book, The Bricks 'n Blooms Guide to a Beautiful and Easy-Care Flower Garden, and writes the blog Bricks ’n Blooms from her 1850 farmhouse located in zone 6b northern New Jersey. She is a master gardener who’s been gardening for over 25 years and enjoys sharing her passion to help beginners find their inner green thumb, as well as discover a love for all things plants and flowers. Stacy loves to bring the outdoors inside her home and decorates with a comfy, casual, and cottagecore style. Come grow stuff and create beautiful spaces with her.
Sign up for my newsletter and discover the secrets to growing the lush, easy-care garden you’ve always dreamed of. Get insider tips, plant guides, and beautiful inspiration delivered straight to your inbox.
