Today’s gardening trend suggests turning the outback into an outdoor den — a gracious extension complete with living areas, covered seating, and a choice of water features that range from a hot tub in a gazebo to creating a wetland haven for frogs and fish.

Conquer the Fear Factor
A recent survey shows that the most prevalent emotion people feel when going to a nursery is fear.
“I was shocked to learn that,” says Sean Hogan, one of the owners of Cistus Nursery, located on Sauvie Island.

But he can understand it, too. “People get overwhelmed. There are so many choices. They worry about getting the right plants for their yard.”

Hogan’s advice to the tentative: “Treat it as a game, a sport, rather than, ‘What if I do the wrong thing?’”

“Not knowing what to plant is daunting to a lot of people, and it makes it hard for them to get started,” says Michelle Koeppke of Pistils Nursery in North Portland. Her advice: If you love being outside and around
living things, you will probably enjoy gardening.

Errors are acceptable, Koeppke stresses. Gardening is like any other artistic discipline: “You learn from it and enjoy. Nobody is mistake proof. Master gardeners develop their green thumbs from making mistakes.”

“Our culture can cow people” into defining what a garden should be, Koeppke says. But it is a person’s quirky individuality that makes gardening fun.

Get a Plan, Get Going
Think of your garden as a series of rooms in a home. Or, you can envision it the way Hogan does: Crunchy on the outside, soft in the middle.

The outer, “crunchy” rooms are filled with plants that thrive in hot, dry, “tough love” climates, while the inner, “soft” sanctum might be a courtyard with a pond and water-loving fauna. It’s one way to get the best of both worlds, and have a manageable water bill, too.

The trick to making this work: “Lump plants together that like the same kinds of elements: soil, shade, or sun. It’s important to understand what you are planting,” he says. Careful planning means your garden will bloom year-round. “In winter, it’s nice to have things flowering by the front door,” Hogan says.

It’s easy to spend a lot of money on a garden, but you don’t have to. Nor do you have to cram the space with grass, trees, and shrubs. “Your yard is an incredibly vast canvas. Plant a few great specimens, then decorate with ‘found’ objects, like wood, rocks, interesting things like colored glass,” Koeppke says.

Are you a fauna fashionista? “Gardens are full of fads just like clothing fashion,” explains Koeppke. When a plant exits its heyday it’s not uncommon for people to tear them out. Of course, roses are the perennial favorite, and never go out of style. “Roses have always been part of our culture,” she explains.

If you’re short on space but long on imagination, it’s possible to create a beautiful garden in a series of pots or flower boxes. People living on floating homes, in tiny apartments, or soaring lofts can create what author Thomas Hobbs, a master gardener and photographer, calls “jewel box gardens.”

Deciding how much time you have to devote to maintenance is critical. New gardens require extra attention and lots of water. Be honest with yourself and create an environment you will want to nurture.

Check the Soil
Getting back to the fear factor: Most people don’t know what will thrive in their yards. “Soil is vital. Eighty-five percent of your gardening success is tied to the quality of your soil,” explains Koeppke.

Before you plant, have the soil tested. Some of the larger nurseries sell test kits or will send your sample to a lab for analysis. Or, simply put: Wetter soil means it has a strong clay component; a dry, runny soil means it has more sand than clay.
“Taking care of soil is not much more work than taking care of plants,” Koeppke says. If you pay attention to the soil and its needs, your gardening investment will take care of itself.”