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Does Your Garden Have the Blahs?

Landscape Design
Boring-shrubs
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How do you know if your garden truly has the blahs?  Well, take the quiz below and see…..

1. Does your garden appear somewhat lackluster lately?  

2. Is the only color present, varying shades of green?  

beautiful garden

3. Do you have fewer plants then when your garden was first planted? 

beautiful garden

4. Are the only shapes in your garden shrubs that been pruned into varying round shapes?  

 5. Can you count the number of plants and trees you have on one hand?  

beautiful garden

Did you answer yes to any of the questions?  If you did, then chances are your garden has a case of the ‘blahs’.  But before you decide to wallow in shame and figure that there is nothing you can do about it….STOP – because it is relatively easy to chase the ‘blahs’ away. Our next post will cover taking inventory in the garden….deciding what to keep and what to get rid of.Did you answer yes to any of the questions?  If you did, then chances are your garden has a case of the ‘blahs’.  But before you decide to wallow in shame and figure that there is nothing you can do about it….STOP – because it is relatively easy to chase the ‘blahs’ away.

By following a few simple steps, you can have a beautiful garden with loads of curb appeal…..okay, at this point, I realize that this post is starting to sound like an infomercial – but I promise, I am not trying to sell you anything 😉

Over the next few days, we will cover simple ways to add interest to your garden.  It is not complicated or difficult to do.  Actually, the same steps can be used for any landscape, whether it is in front of an apartment complex, a restaurant, school, a church, a golf course…..pretty much anywhere.

**Your first homework assignment is to take a picture of your boring gardens, whether it is in front, back or on the side.  Print out your picture and bring a red pen….more instructions will follow in the next post.**

My hope is that these posts will help you to achieve a garden full of interest and beauty that you are proud to call your own.

Noelle Johnson, aka, 'AZ Plant Lady' is a author, horticulturist, and landscape consultant who helps people learn how to create, grow, and maintain beautiful desert gardens that thrive in a hot, dry climate. She does this through her consulting services, her online class Desert Gardening 101, and her monthly membership club, Through the Garden Gate. As she likes to tell desert-dwellers, "Gardening in the desert isn't hard, but it is different."
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https://www.azplantlady.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Boring-shrubs.jpg 320 640 arizonaplantlady@gmail.com https://www.azplantlady.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/AZ-Plant-Lady-Logo-small.jpg arizonaplantlady@gmail.com2010-09-14 17:43:002021-02-20 03:34:02Does Your Garden Have the Blahs?
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16 replies
  1. leavesnbloom
    leavesnbloom says:
    September 14, 2010 at 6:01 pm

    mine's not got blah's but it needs some va va voom!

  2. Grace
    Grace says:
    September 14, 2010 at 7:45 pm

    Our front yard is a bit blah but our backyard garden is out of this world – thanks to *you* and your fabulous design for us!

  3. Carol
    Carol says:
    September 14, 2010 at 8:44 pm

    Noelle, My garden is in the blahs … but of a different nature… a jungle. What a mess. I love your idea here. Love your wit too. ;>)

  4. rohrerbot
    rohrerbot says:
    September 14, 2010 at 9:57 pm

    The weeds!!!! Oh my goodness…so many of them all over the place. I look forward to the homework:)I look forward to your ideas:)

  5. Rebecca @ In The Garden
    Rebecca @ In The Garden says:
    September 14, 2010 at 10:53 pm

    My garden definitely has the blahs, but I think it's seasonal. The days are getting shorter, it's freezing cold and it feels like the season is pretty much over. A few more fall blooms to go (if they make it) and then the long cold wait. Sorry if I sound whiny, but BLAH is a perfect way to sum things up!

  6. Curbstone Valley Farm
    Curbstone Valley Farm says:
    September 14, 2010 at 11:04 pm

    We're very blah. Most of our visual interest is in the form of weeds at the moment. Gardening mostly with regional natives seems to dictate blah this late in the season. However, I have my red pen ready…just hoping nobody else has to see the photo! 😛

  7. Annelie
    Annelie says:
    September 15, 2010 at 12:01 am

    I've been working a lot in my garden lately to prevent the blah:ness. And I'm doing good, I think…
    But I've actually taken pictures like you suggest and studied the pictures in addition to standing in the garden looking at my plants to see what's missing.

  8. Ami
    Ami says:
    September 15, 2010 at 3:31 am

    My garden does not have much blahs, except those side area that has not opened yet. But I am very interested in reading the future posts for the ideas. Great idea!

  9. One
    One says:
    September 15, 2010 at 3:45 am

    Can't wait to read what's next , Noelle…. 🙂

    The part of the garden I am unhappy about is the Phillipine grass that grows too fast, invading all other plants. I cannot seem to keep up with them.

  10. Amy
    Amy says:
    September 15, 2010 at 3:48 pm

    What a wonderful idea for a post! My garden's got more of a case of the haphazards than the blahs, but there are definitely a few blank canvas areas I can take a red pen to. Can't wait to read more.

  11. Liz
    Liz says:
    September 15, 2010 at 4:00 pm

    This post made me laugh. I'm excited for the next ones.

  12. Hocking Hills Gardener
    Hocking Hills Gardener says:
    September 15, 2010 at 4:31 pm

    My garden definitely has some very blah areas which I have been trying to clear up so your lessons are most welcome.I am looking forward to this Noelle.

  13. Darla
    Darla says:
    September 16, 2010 at 9:42 am

    I hope I can make all of these classes.

  14. antigonum cajan
    antigonum cajan says:
    September 16, 2010 at 11:50 am

    With one hundred species, some rather hard to see/find, impossible to buy, I do not qualify.

    However I have a question, the pruning and maintenance in the first picture is done by foreign gardeners? It creates the false impression of low maintenance..

    Even though hedges, palms, turf, and topiaries are no no's in Antigonum Commandments; this installation looks fine. It is not common. I love the asymetry.

    Excellent post!

  15. Shady Gardener
    Shady Gardener says:
    September 17, 2010 at 2:14 am

    Perhaps there is a case of the blahs around here… but it's more likely found in the gardener instead of the garden! I'm working at it, though. 🙂

  16. Rose
    Rose says:
    September 17, 2010 at 2:22 am

    I was going to answer a resounding "yes" to your initial question, Noelle, but I couldn't answer yes to any of the others, thank goodness. Still I'm looking forward to reading all your design tips, which I certainly can use.

Comments are closed.

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Noelle Johnson, aka, 'AZ Plant Lady' is a author, horticulturist, and landscape consultant who helps people learn how to create, grow, and maintain beautiful desert gardens that thrive in a hot, dry climate. She does this through her consulting services, her online class Desert Gardening 101, and her monthly membership club, Through the Garden Gate. As she likes to tell desert-dwellers, "Gardening in the desert isn't hard, but it is different."

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