Down the garden path

Flowers and foliage
In a woodland garden, plants need to be shade-tolerant. These plants may be no-fuss native species (the better suited your plants are to their environment, the less work it is to keep them thriving). Decide if you want your garden to look “natural” or bright and showy; remember that its appearance will vary with the season and plan accordingly. You may choose to grow natives for spring colour and exotics in baskets for summer. Some native ephemerals, such as bloodroot and trout lily, bloom before the tree canopy fills in, then fall dormant and quickly disappear (when buying native plants, look for the label Nursery Propagated to ensure that they have not been taken from the wild). Foliage plants such as ferns, hostas and leafy perennials provide interest all season. Keep invasive plants out or confine them to containers.

Path making
A path can be as simple as a trampled meander through a bed of native ground covers, a band of lawn between flower borders, a mowed curve through meadow grasses or a line of stone pavers through a woodland. For this, you may not need a contractor. On the other hand, you may want something more complicated such as a herringbone design of bricks or a mosaic of small stones pressed into concrete. Design the path for a single walker or for two or more side by side. In a stroll garden, a curving path offers changing perspectives and tempts the stroller to slow down, stop or even stay awhile.

Tree Thinning
Live with and look at the existing trees and undergrowth for at least a year, as gardener Karen Lynch did, to determine what you have and what you wish to preserve. A healthy woodland includes trees of various species and all ages, so save some saplings. Smaller trees, shrubs and wildflowers can be dug out of proposed pathways or beds and transplanted. Proceed cautiously; cutting and trimming trees is both art and science. It can be dangerous to you, the plant, the landscape and even the neighbourhood, and in some municipalities, you may need a permit. When in doubt, hire a professional recommended by someone you trust or look in the Yellow Pages under landscape or tree service. Quality can vary; ask for references.