Event Phone: 507-388-4877

“The best time to plant a tree was 10 years ago. The second best time is now.”

Landscape Design Day was a hit last year so we are doing it again!

We welcome you to bring your landscape and garden dreams and information about your current yard to get your projects rolling. Our knowledgeable staff will help you choose plants for your landscape to accomplish the look and feel you want outside your home. Hardscape design is not included but we are happy to give suggestions for plants for the area!

Can’t make it to design day? Email johanna@drummersgardencenter.com to schedule a free 30 minute landscape consult. Get more landscape design services info.

First steps before design day:

It’s good to think of a landscape project as a multi-step process so you don’t get overwhelmed with tasks. A large project will take you multiple days. Potted plants need frequent watering. Getting them in the ground as soon as possible is highly recommended. Preparing the area beforehand will help you manage your tasks without being rushed.

Tasks you can do beforehand:

• Remove sod off the top layer if you need to. You can also cover the area with dark plastic to start killing the grass if you are layering a deep layer of soil over it instead and the soil isn’t too compacted.
• Buy top soil and compost.
• Acquire mulching to cover the area with 1″-2″ of mulch after planting.
• Have your gardening tools ready like a spade, gardening gloves, and any a tiller if you need to break up compacted soil, and hand-spade for smaller plants. If you are starting a new garden it is recommended to weed and till the soil as compacted soil will stunt plant growth. Plant roots need oxygen and compacted soils will not provide needed oxygen for the roots.

What you will need to bring to help design your landscape:

• Clear images of the area where you want to add or change plants.
• Type of sunlight:
  – 6+ hours of direct sun
  – 4-6 hrs of sun
  – Less than 4 hours of sun
  – Dappled sun/shade all-day
  – Bright shade or areas that have higher tree canopies that allow the sunlight to brighten up the area without direct sun.
• Length and width measurement of the space you want to plant.

Assess the soil type.
Instructions and description of soil types below:

Soil types:
Clay, Loamy or Sandy.

• Clay soil is usually not well-draining and will stay in a ball if you wet it and squeeze it into a ball. Adding compost is recommended.
• Loamy soil is water-retaining and well-draining. It has an equal parts silt, sand, and a little less clay. You can ball up this soil but it will break apart easily. This is typically the ideal soil but some plants prefer or tolerate clay or sandy soil.
• Sandy soil is harder to ball up and may not form a ball at all. It doesn’t have much water retention properties or nutrients like loam/silt and it very well-draining. Adding compost is recommended.

Soil Characteristics:

• Well-draining, can retain moisture but doesn’t stay soggy after rain event or watering.
• Not well-draining, holds water for long period of time, typically lower areas of the yard, soil will stay soggy or pools of water linger for over a day after rain event.

Come in anytime between 9 am to 5 pm and we will have staff on-hand to look over your information and start showing you the plants we have available. We have many varieties, shapes, sizes, and characteristics of plants so we are confident you will find what you need.

There will be a 10% discount to participants on perennials, trees, vines and shrubs on that Friday or Saturday.