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PAS Garden Home: Texture, Pattern and Rhythm

In this episode of P. Allen Smith’s Garden Home learn about the design element of Texture, Pattern and Rhythm.  Learn why investing in top quality turf makes good sense, how to plant peonies and how to grow an espaliered fruit tree.

Featured Plants
Japanese Wisteria (Wisteria floribunda)
Lobelia
Peony ‘Festiva Maxima’
Zoysia Cavalier
Verbena on a Stick
Mexican Feather Grass

Construction Update
The tile work in the master bathroom is underway.  One the floors we are using a porcelain hexagon shaped tile and a black and white Greek Key border.  The ways a glossy subway tile.

The Green Component
Arborist Robbie Hudson creates beautiful bowls with wood he collects on the job.

Hands on Gardening
Peonies are known as the Queen of Perennials, but with the proper conditions and care they will bloom for many years.

• Be sure to plant in full sun in soil that drains well.
• Don’t plant too deep.  Plant tubers with the “eyes” pointing up and cover with 2-inches of soil.
• Peonies won’t thrive in the Deep South although gardeners in zone 8 can have good luck with early blooming varieties.
• Plant early, mid and late blooming varieties for an extending flowering season.

Garden Home Inside and Out
The zoysia Cavalier lawns at the Garden Home Retreat serve as a “carpet” for the garden rooms.  Dr. Mike Richardson of the University of Arkansas shares tips for selecting turf grass.

• You get what you pay for.  Better quality grass has a richer color, requires less fertilizer, grows slower so it needs less mowing, and cuts better when mowed.

Friends in the Garden
Espalier tree expert Peter Thevenot visits the Garden Home Retreat to help Allen replace a candelabra shaped apple tree that died from fungus.  He shares some tips on growing and training these works of art.  He also explains how to treat the planting area with an organic fungicide such as Copper Sulfate to prevent the fungus from spreading to the new tree.

Allen’s Collections
Baskets are an essential at the Garden Home.  In addition to being decorative they are handy for bringing things in from the garden.

Pets in the Garden
Just hatched are Jersey Giant chicks and Appleyard ducklings and turkeys.

Virtual Makeover
Michael in Colorado receives recommendations for the front yard of his split level home with a hot western exposure.