Landscaping or Gardening?

Since we bought the new house, I've had to re-orient my ideas of landscaping and gardening to a much larger scale (which I welcome, although it is a little daunting!). The just-over-1/3 acre plot of land we now own is over 10 times the size of our previous city rowhouse. While tiny, the garden there was my lab, an ongoing experiment in learning how to garden in the earth, not just containers. It evolved drastically over the 5 years we owned it, and I could easily have taken another 10 years to make it into my vision. Not that I actually had much of a vision for it.

So with 16,000 square feet comes a whole new sense of scale. I am trying to consider that I am no longer a gardener, but a landscaper. (Or "lawndscaper" as I just wrote by mistake!) We inherit a distinct lack of garden. Instead, our lot is inspired more by the landscape of the nearby Arboreteum. Dominated by the weeping willow, the lot is bordered on all sides by trees, with swathes of grass underneath. In the front, in addition to the willow, we have two eastern white pine, a spruce and an oak (as well as many cedars). The backyard displays a classic pattern of evergreens (spruce and cedar) on the north side, deciduous trees along the east and south lines. The deciduous trees are mainly maple (sugar, or possibly black, I think) with some alternate-leaf trees TBD. One Ash on the north side as well. One Buckthorn which - well, we'll see if it survives! And a mystery-thorny shrub/small tree bent over drastically. Hawthorne?

So on the one hand we've got some good bones and structure in place. There are several trees in questionable shape (I plan on hiring an arborist to guide me through a tree-care session!). As far as I can tell (still lots of snow out there) little in the way of understory shrubs, perennial gardens etc. I do have a vague sense of a) wanting to keep the naturalistic, woodland feel (and improve it) and b) planting in drifts. Because of the lines of the house, I am trying to think more "horizontal". I also have a weakness for weeping plants, and now I have some slopes with which to show them off.

I've only recently discovered the design ideology of Piet Oudolf's "Wave" gardening, as well as its influences on the designs of firms like Oehme, van Sweden. While I'm generally uncertain about how much I like ornamental grasses (I prefer plants with a tidy habit) - I do like some sedges and grasses. And the plant-in-drifts aspect really speaks to me. I'm pondering how far I could take this design in our garden, or a place like Ottawa in general. Winter interest around here is measured in evergreens - seedheads are buried under the 1-3 feet of snow cover! Carefully selected, I think some swathes/river of plants in a bed sweeping along our steps and across the front of the house could look really good, and not require too much maintenance. I do have a weakness for flowering shrubs (peonies, rugosa roses, hydrangea, rhodos etc) and limiting myself/drawing the line will be an issue. Because - again - it's a question of scale. My old habits of one plant specimens, tiny beds won't work here. I need a Design.

This summer I will be attempting Patience. Learn the property is my task! I want to know about the soil, sun, and drainage. I want to get better at making compost, and learn about the trees. I will think about where to put garden beds (and what to put in them), and learn how to tend a lawn (organically, I hope!). I will see how we actually use the space.

I must still garden (though I imagine mostly I will be pulling out the pruning equipment) - and will try to figure out where I can tend an herb and heirloom vegetable garden. Perhaps some pots here and there as a test case? I am also starting some plants from seed, and will hopefully add some more as well. I'm also considering a "greenhouse bed" for small perennials (started from seed, or little babies) which I can tend and transplant later.

Landscape and planning

My main objective this year is to learn more about the type and quality of the soil, and see where the sun hits. I'd also like to discover what I've already got on the site, further my knowledge of the trees, and hire an arbourist to help prune/explain about said trees.

Our house grading is poor and needs improvement all around. Our roof, soffits, fascia all need replacing, and we'll add eavestroughing at selected locations. I also want to add as many rain barrels as I can afford. Other than the grading, most of our effort this summer will have to be directed towards the house itself.

I do plan to try tomatoes and herbs in a couple locations. We've also order a free tree through the city's Tree program. It is going to be a small native tree, such as a Serviceberry. So I'll need to decide on a site for that.

We're moving from a city rowhouse, and I'll be cutting grass with a mower for the first time in my life. And learning how to care for the lawn.

I also plan to do a pruning regimen where I can to tidy up the trees, especially the overgrown cedars. And I'd like to put railings on the deck.

In general, I need to keep an eye out on drainage patterns and runoff. We have a complicated sloping site, a wet basement, and a ravine... plus the soil may be expansive clay... I may consider weeping tile/ french drain/ dry well/ dry river bed if needed.

In the future, a vegetable garden, lots of shrubs, and a garden bed along the steps are in the cards. Depending on the mowing, I'll probably consider ways to reduce the size of the lawn. I'd like to see a woodland garden at the back/by the ravine.

I would like to retain the woody- ravine feel, and the indoor/outdoor aspects of our ranch house. Privacy and beauty. Horizontal accents to compliment the house. I'd like to improve the "curb appeal" in general. The rear of the house should be an enclave, welcoming. The path to the back needs improving too.