Master gardener

Question: Hello, do any of your students/volunteers, create garden plans. I recently moved to a house with a courtyard and would like a garden plan of succession plants. I have uploaded pictures; however These were before I removed the bushes on the right-hand side.

responder: Answered by the Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC), University of Maryland Extension. For timely gardening information and tips, subscribe to our Maryland Grows blog and quarterly newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Replied October 07, 2024, 3:54 PM EDT
response: Unfortunately Master Gardener volunteers don't provide landscaping plans/designs or labor one-on-one with residents, though they do offer workshops, demonstration gardens (often, but not always, outside the county Extension office), plant clinics (where you could bring a sketch or photos for some tips), and similar outreach events or materials. The linked page is the main MG page where you can look up local points-of-contact and plant clinic / demonstration garden locations.  Site conditions to assess for any consultation (or even if you go through the planning process yourself), since they influence which plants will thrive or tolerate those conditions with as little maintenance as possible, include:how much direct summer sun the area(s) receive (full sun being 6-8 or more hours)how well-drained the soil is, and whether any areas skew wet (by a downspout or overflowing gutter, perhaps) or skew dryif deer can access the area (it looks like this area is completely enclosed, but this can apply to other areas)what mature size the plants can reach without having to rely on pruning to restrain size (not all plants tolerate regular pruning well) If you don't already know, we can say that the shrub pictured is Nandina (also called Heavenly Bamboo, despite not being at all related to true bamboo). It's invasive in Maryland, and we encourage gardeners to remove it so birds don't spread the seed (via eating berries) into natural areas. It sounds like you may have removed the Nandina already, but in case not, we wanted to mention it.  Through Ask Extension, we're also happy to provide feedback on garden plans/ideas that you receive/generate, though we aren't able to actually design a space. If working through the process with yourself or a consultant, start with choosing the largest-maturing species that you want to include (usually shrubs, but could be some perennials) that will take up the most space, decide where they should go for year-round interest and where they do or don't block a view, and progress down in size from there. Evergreens are useful to consider first, if used, since they will have foliage year-round. Some evergreen plants change color in winter (bringing additional interest to the mix), but most do not. Overall, species that bloom at different times, or which have differing foliage textures, colors, or growth habits (upright, cascading, etc.) can add seasonal or year-round interest too even if flowers are not very showy or not out for very long.  Miri

responder: The Question Asker Replied October 07, 2024, 5:17 PM EDT
response: Miri, thank you for this information.On Oct 7, 2024 at 3:54 PM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:

responder: Answered by theHome and Garden Information Center (HGIC), University of Maryland Extension. For timely gardening information and tips, subscribe to our Maryland Grows blog and quarterly newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Replied October 08, 2024, 8:51 AM EDT
response: You're welcome.