Mulch, mulch, mulch.

The weed’s worst enemy—and your best friend for water retention—is mulch. You don’t always need to buy it in bags either. Hedge trimmings and other leaves often make great mulch.

Gardens take time and care and are never done; they continue to evolve as our needs and desires change. They can be a source of great pleasure or, if not planned to suit your lifestyle, they can be a great burden. Taking the time to plan your garden will help determine which way it affects you.

We began with our herbs and trees, planned well, and built up from there. At first there were a lot of hours put in after work and on days off: cleaning out weeds and overgrowth, digging and laying pathways, building planters, and amending soil. Today, however, all of that planning and work have paid off, and it seems like the garden almost takes care of itself.