Gardening season has arrived in Minnesota, and this year I was eager to get an early start. In mid-April, I started clearing out our back garden beds. At the time, I wrote on Instagram that our backyard was about to become completely my person. It was a joke… sort of? Either way, I’m determined to finally make my mark on our backyard beds, an area that has been largely untouched since we moved into this house.
Today I’m sharing my backyard plans for 2024, what I’ve done so far, and some of the emotional benefits this new hobby has to offer.
How our backyard has evolved since 2020
When we moved into our house in 2020, the backyard garden beds were lush but overgrown and full of weeds. Over the years, I have gone through cycles of weeding these beds and leaving them as they are. I did not add any new plants to the cleared areas, leaving room for invasive species to grow.
In comparison, the garden beds in our front yard are in very good condition. After a group of mature shrubs, trees and shrubs died last year, we undertook a major landscaping project to revitalize these gardens. I also planted bulbs here last fall, and fought to keep the rabbits from eating them, an effort that was about 50% successful.
Backyard garden plans for 2024
So far this year, I’ve noticed what’s growing and what’s died since last year. Joe and I rake up piles of foliage and remove weeds including common burdock, garlic mustard, creeping Charlie, and ground elderberry. We also added mulch throughout the garden beds.
It’s been a lot of work, but clearing everything is just the beginning. In years past, I’ve cleared out these beds and become stuck knowing what to plant. Then more invasive plants grow as a result. This year we are breaking that cycle!
As for next steps, I’m determined to have the plants in the ground by mid-June. Our backyard is shaded, so anything I grow needs to thrive in shady conditions. I want to follow the concept of “messy gardening” by using mostly (but not all) native plants. The goal is to select and plant a variety of species that will do well in the space without needing a lot of care, then let them grow wild for the most part.
These are the plants currently in our backyard:
Hostas Astilbe Evergreens, Boxwood Fern
Here are some things I’m thinking of planting this year:
Maidenhair Fern Foam Flower False Indigo Blue More Hostas Bleeding Heart More Rhododendron Astilbe
I try to be realistic about how much time, energy, and space I have. Although the process may not be perfect, I know that filling the backyard with plants that are meant to thrive in that area will be a big step in the right direction.
The emotional benefits of gardening
During my years as a novice gardener, I learned that gardening takes time and effort, and the results are always improving. It’s not just about the result, but also about the experience itself and the benefits that come from it. There is a lot of research supporting the positive benefits of gardening, and this recent article from the New York Times cites several of these studies.
Gardening is a great way to relax and de-stress, and it’s also a good source of exercise! But the benefits of gardening go beyond the physical benefits. It can also have a positive impact on your emotional health. I suppose this is the main reason you take the time to invest in these spaces. Gardening forces me to slow down, be patient and spend time outside. I feel so good and satisfied after I get out and do it.
I’m now exploring joining a community group of gardeners in my neighborhood to learn more and meet new people. I think it would be a good way to learn from other gardeners! I can’t wait to look back at this post a year from now and see how far these spaces have come.
Kate is the founder of Wit & Delight. She is currently learning how to play tennis and will continue to do so forever Testing the limits of her creative muscles. Follow her on Instagram at @witanddelight_.
