Tiered Garden

I was undecided how to do this general area and did lots of Google image searches for gardening on a slope or hill. I decided to go with a tiered system using landscape timbers. I started the first row of timbers in April 2020.

In June, the dirt was brought in to shape the tiers and make the level pad that would be my lower garden.

Covid was in full swing by this point, and shortages were happening – including landscape timbers. Once I found a place that had enough to finish both tiers, I got them, and with help from family, the tiered garden was shaped over the course of 2 months.

By the end of 2020, most all was finished. I had planned to do the end pieces on each tier/garden bed myself since the bulk of the work was done. We also added posts in front for some hanging baskets, and they serve a dual purpose by adding extra support for the landscape timber wall. The landscape timber walls also have rebar going through them and into the ground to hold them in place.

March 2021, the ends were finished, and all the beds were filled with garden soil – one wheelbarrow at a time by yours truly. With a nice view of a new business just built in the background of this picture. In our backyard… 🤬 Pardon the fencing and cardboard on top of the beds. That is what it’s like gardening with 2 indoor/outdoor cats! They think it’s a giant litter box.

That summer, I planted tomatoes in the top left bed and my dahlias in the bottom right because my lower garden was not done. That is where I originally wanted to plant the tomatoes and dahlias.

In 2022, I moved all of the roses I had (except my 2 pink double knockout roses in the perennial garden) to the top left tier and planted annuals in the bottom tiers. Things did okay, but I felt it could be better.

I tilled in some fertilizer and some amendments before planting out in 2023. I had a game plan for 2023 and had planned ahead where to plant what. I like to use the flower images in Microsoft Excel to see how the colors go together.

Last year was the best this garden area has ever looked! Things did so well! I am so terrible about fertilizing, and it made all the difference in the world. I plan to do a separate post about fertilizing and soil tests later.

This year was overwhelming for me, so I decided not to plant out the tiered garden. I used temporary landscape fabric to help keep the weeds at bay earlier in the season.

But the weeds can be persistent. I despise chamberbitter! The top left tier was supposed to be 12 dahlias but only 2 survived. The weeds did fabulous though…

A shout-out to some volunteer celosia in the walkway of the lower tier and the salvia in the lower left bed. 😂 I will remove the landscape fabric before planting next spring.

There are a few perennials currently in the tiered garden, at the end of Sept 2024.

• Roses – Popcorn Drift Rose / 2 Petite Knockout
• Columbine – Leprechaun Gold / Nora Barlow / Pink Petticoat
• Geranium (Cranesbill) – Vision Light Pink
• Hydrangea – Blue/Pink depending on soil pH (moving this soon)
• Lilac – variety unknown
• Garden Mum – variety unknown
• Carnation – Chabaud La France
• Feverfew – Chrysanthemum-type flowers / Tetra White (not sure I’m keeping the feverfew)