I’ve been planning on downsizing my garden piece-by-piece, bed-by-bed, for years. Why am I downsizing?
This land and I have had a long and fruitful relationship.
I’ve been growing in this space for 36 years. If you give a plant nut 7.5 acres to grow, you’ll end up with an extensive garden, or maybe several gardens. I had great freedom, and I ran with it.
I presently have 1.5 acres under cultivation, and I need to downsize it to an acre or so. That’s still a lot of garden for one person and perhaps, a helper or two, to maintain. Then, there’s the meadow, which is about an acre as well.
I can’t stand the thought of letting my garden become weedy and overgrown. It’s like when people stay in their homes for years, and slowly become consumed by their possessions. Frankly, the thought of all that dusty bric-à-brac makes me shudder.
It’s the same with gardens. How many times have you visited an older gardener who could no longer keep up with the maintenance? It’s just sad.
Below is the Instagram video where I discussed my decision to downsize. The overalls are from Duluth. They are the best and softest things I’ve worn in a while. I sent them into Insect Shield for permethrin bonding. My affiliate code for 15% off is DEENASHRDR. Affiliate codes help me pay for blog hosting which has become quite expensive over the years.
How did I know I needed to downsize?
I started gardening because I love it, but I haven’t loved the process for nearly four years. Shocking, but true. Between the ice storm in 2020 and the wildfire that swept my neighborhood in 2023, my love for my garden and my passion for gardening was waning. Getting Alpha-gal syndrome from a Lonestar tick bite was just the icing on a poop cake.
Downsizing to reignite my passion for gardening.
I had to go back to the drawing board and ponder why I love gardening. Many people think I’m doing this because I’m sick. Actually, my physical health is better than it was three years ago. I lost about 87 pounds, and I’m stronger overall. I have a food allergy and Mast Cell Activation syndrome, but everyone has something.
To keep the garden moderately tidy, I worked from January through October almost daily. I don’t want to work as hard as I have the last 36 years.
Where to start downsizing?
I’m starting with the two beds that face the street. They are difficult to get to in spring and to maintain throughout the gardening season. Part of this is because I can’t see them from my house. Out of sight, out of mind, was never a truer statement.
Since Bill had two back surgeries and can’t run the tractor right now, I hired some help to remove these two beds. Before they start, I’ll move my pink muhly grass and plant it on either side of the arbor that’s the entrance to the back garden.
As for everything else in these beds, I think I’ll let these plants go. My garden helpers can take anything they want. I’m trying to say goodbye to some plants.
It is difficult to say goodbye and let them go. Downsizing the garden isn’t easy.
The next step in downsizing.
I’m reducing the back garden to nearly its original design which came out of Kitchen Gardener magazine. In this Instagram video, I discussed how. I’m waiting for Luz to finish two jobs before he will get to mine, and that’s okay. I know those four long beds are going away, and it’s given me the impetus and freedom to work in other places.
I’m leaving the trees, and the two red crapemyrtles will frame behind the arbor. I will move one of the ‘Annabelle’ hydrangeas to the no-man’s-land corner in the back garden.
By eliminating these five beds, we will remove approximately 3,500 square feet, which is about a tenth of an acre. That sounds like a lot, but I have so much more.
People change, and gardens do too.
For the first time in years, I don’t already feel behind. Bill is very sad about these changes, but I gently remind him change isn’t always bad.
Once I’m finished with this downsizing, I’m going to wait and see where to go from here. I’ll share more later as we dismantle these beds. As always, thanks for joining me.
I was just telling hubs a little about your story, especially because I want him to be as cautious about ticks as I’ve been since learning about your issues. We’re planning to move back to Michigan to be near our family, and it’s breaking my heart to leave Robin’s Nest behind. But we’re nearing 70, and it’s getting to be a burden. Our new home will have a much smaller garden, and I’m already making list about what plants have worked well, and which ones I wish I had never planted. Sound familiar?
We evolve as gardeners and our gardens should too. We are creative beings and I predict that this much needed process will ignite the creative gardener in you! Once you get through the hard work, I think you will love your new garden! I’m excited for you! All the best my friend! ??
Three cheers for taking the bull by the horns and making a plan for right-sizing your gardens. I’ve been threatening to do that for 3 years and haven’t made much headway. But I’m ready to start this year. I’ve decided I can’t feel bad about removing plants. I’ll give away what I can and compost the rest. Between the wildlife, especially deer, the weather and climate change and my aging body, the time has come. I’ll follow your progress eagerly.
Dee, it takes courage to be proactive and downsize! I am in the same journey. I cannot keep all my beds up the way I used to. This is partly due to not having the stamina I used to, partly due to our temps increasing and I can’t handle the heat, and partly due to wanting to do other things. I am trying to determine my favorite, lowest maintenance, and longest blooming plants to keep, and the others will go. Good luck on your endeavor!
Seasons my dear. A time to build up and a time to take down. I am sure you will find more satisfaction and peace from your new garden. And you will be ready to move into your next season. Thank you for sharing your wisdom.
I think you are being wise, creating or recreating a garden you can love, and that will love you back. Can’t wait to hear more about your changes.
You’ll be the first to hear!~~Dee
Thank you once again for your very helpful posts. I would appreciate your telling us exactly what you are going to do with the beds you are getting rid of. Are you planting lawn? After establishing my five acre garden on our Macadamia property 45 years ago, in my 88th year, I am facing the fact that my energy levels are diminishing, not growing. I garden in a sub tropical area of NSW with beautiful red volcanic soils and with no help. Plants grow as if they were triffids, especially in summer with plentiful rain and heat. It takes me 8 hours just to mow the lawns every four days. I can almost watch the weeds growing and the shrubs seem to need constant trimming. Unless I want macadamia trees planted closer to the house, which I don’t, I am caught between a rock and a hard place. Maybe I will leave it to the next generation, ha, ha.
So pleased to read that Bill is on the mend. It must have been a very worrying time for you but I hope Bill comes home soon, fully recovered.
Hi Merle, most of Oklahoma is covered in Bermuda grass, and my acreage is no different. We will spread the soil once the railroad tie borders and the plants are removed, and will put down sod. I will only water the sod to get it established. Bermuda grows in our climate without additional water once it is established. The two beds facing the street have an old sidewalk that runs adjacent to the greenhouse. It will stay. i don’t like Bermuda, but in this case it makes sense. I will still have borders all around my house along with the kitchen border and the back garden. My emphasis will be to plant more native and adapted trees in my landscape which was devastated by fire. I already planted two in December 2023. They are my Trees of hope which I detailed in a blog post. Thanks for your thoughtful comment. I hope you figure out the best way to deal with your property.~~Dee
Dee,
I’ve always loved following along with you and this downsizing is what I am doing too. I admire you and embrace your wisdom. This is an encouraging journey to be on with you..
Do you remember which issue of Kitchen Gardener you used as a garden guideline? I have EVERY issue ..lol
Love,
Mona
Hi Mona, yes, I have the issue. I have all the issues. LOL. I had to go to eBay to get some of them. My original design in the back garden is from February/March 2000, and it’s on pages 30-31. Bill first built me their design. He later built two long beds at the end of that garden, and then he later built a mirror image of it all. So, when I write that I’m taking the garden back to its almost original design, i mean it. It will be the original, plus its mirror image. I hope that makes sense. Thanks for following along and for your comment.~~Dee
Do you want to laugh. I’ve looked and looked and that is the ONLY issue I am missing..LOL
Okay, I’m laughing just a little bit.
Dee, I think I understand your thought process. No matter how much you dismantle, it’s going to be beautiful and you might enjoy it more without so much hanging over your head. We live on an acre and a half and when we moved here 7 years ago, I dreamed of landscaping the entire place. Little did I realize, we are on a rural co-op for water and they strictly limit our water usage. We are in north Texas and almost always in drought conditions. So…gardening dreams change a little. 🙂
Hi Stacey, thanks for the kind words. What a bummer to learn you couldn’t use much water! I think you’re right. Just because things change it doesn’t mean you can’t still dream. I’m finding my dreams are more vivid now that I’m letting go of some things. ~~Dee