Things You'll Need:
- Research
- Mom (or any significant nurturing person in your life who deserves the credit for mothering you)
- a space to landscape
- plants
- ornaments
- water features
- a plan
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Step 1
Listen to your mother. If you have paid close attention all year, Mom has probably dropped some very broad hints about her likes and dislikes. Take everything you know about her and use it to plan the perfect garden. First, find out what space is available for your landscape plan.
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Step 2
Choose one or more focal points in the space you will be using. This can be a plant, tree, water feature, or simply a point of view.
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Step 3
Check your gardening zone to determine what plants work best in your climate region. Make sure to plant native and noninvasive species, as they will require less care and watering than exotics.
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Step 4
Decide on a theme for your garden. Base the theme on Mom's favorite things, colors, plants, and activities.
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Step 5
Pick plants carefully. Do not over plant, as you will want to leave room for growth. Try to plant in threes or fives for a more natural look, rather than planting in rows.
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Step 6
Prepare soil, mixing it evenly between topsoil, clay, and sand. Use fertilizer sparingly. If possible, use organic material rather than chemical fertilizers. Examples: fish tank water, sawdust, vegetable peelings, fruit rinds and skins, chopped leaf matter that is not moldy, used charcoal, shredded newspapers, shredded cardboard, fish bones and skins.
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Step 7
Arrange for a day out with a grandchild, other sibling, or your Dad. Get to planting, and she will be pleasantly surprised when she returns.
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Step 8
Cover flower beds with old newspapers for organic weed control and to help keep moisture in soil. Set plants out before planting, so that they adjust to the prevailing temperature. Arrange them without planting first, to get the prettiest effect.
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Step 9
Include something for all the senses. A wind chime or water feature can add to the relaxing atmoshere.
