Ways to transform your garden with personality and creativity in Wilmington

Angela Pearsall
·2 min read
Allow the various textures and colors of some native wildflowers in your landscape beds.
Allow the various textures and colors of some native wildflowers in your landscape beds.

Elevating your gardening game isn't just about perfecting your pruning techniques or mastering the art of composting. To me, it's also about infusing your garden with personality and creativity, while also keeping your plants healthy. No murdering those crepe myrtles with annual drastic pruning.

It's about transforming your outdoor space into a sanctuary where you can escape the chaos of everyday life and reconnect with nature. Elevating your gardening game is as much about having fun as it is about growing plants. After all, a garden filled with joy is sure to flourish and thrive. With that in mind, I've compiled a few tips to assist you in elevating your gardening game.

Firstly, forget about perfectly manicured lawns and symmetrical flower beds. Designate an area of your garden as the "lazy gardener's" section and let nature take its course. It's the perfect excuse to sit back, relax, and let the wildflowers do their thing. You will want to identify and remove invasive exotics, however, then let nature’s green thumb prevail.

Sharp, disinfected pruning tools are a must for the great gardener.
Sharp, disinfected pruning tools are a must for the great gardener.

Also, are you tired of your garden looking more like a graveyard for plants than a thriving oasis? Do your shrubs cower in fear at the sight of your rusty, dull gardening tools? Imagine if a surgeon tried to perform a delicate operation with a dull bread knife. Healing and growth would be hindered, for sure. Well, the same goes for gardening! Your plants deserve the best, so sharpen those pruners and hedge trimmers like your garden's life depends on it.

Why not get creative and transform your garden into an outdoor art gallery with sculptures, installations, and other artistic creations. Whether it's a whimsical sculpture made from recycled materials or a living plant wall masterpiece, let your imagination run wild and turn your garden into a work of art.

You really should disinfect your pruners diligently; your plants rely on it. Just as you wouldn't reuse a tissue, think of disinfecting your gardening tools between plants as giving them a much-needed hand sanitizer bath. Diseases spread rapidly, so ensure your garden avoids a botanical flu outbreak by wiping down blades with disinfectant wipes or spritzing with isopropyl alcohol.

PHOTOS: 2024 Master Gardener Plant Sale at New Hanover Arboretum

Adding a hammock in your landscape elevates your nature experience.
Adding a hammock in your landscape elevates your nature experience.

Who needs a therapist's couch when you have a garden hammock surrounded by fragrant blooms? Create your own botanical sanctuary where you can escape the stresses of daily life and commune with nature. Just be sure to check for hidden surprises before settling in for a relaxing afternoon nap.

Finally, remember that perfection is overrated, especially in the world of gardening. Embrace the quirks and imperfections of your garden, just like you would with your eccentric Aunt Betty. After all, it's those little idiosyncrasies that give your garden its unique charm and personality.

Pearsall
Pearsall

Angela Pearsall is a program assistant with NC Cooperative Extension - New Hanover County Center and Arboretum. Located at 6206 Oleander Drive in Wilmington, the gardens are free and open daily from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Angela may be reached at 910-798-7660 or apearsa@ncsu.edu.  

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Ways to transform your garden in Wilmington, NC