Every year I do a species inventory of my garden.
I make note of which plants are growing where, and how well they tolerate the level of sun, the soil, and their neighboring plants. Sometimes I discover that plants fail to thrive in our clay soil; such is the case with our blueberry and goji berry plants. Each year, they’ve been getting smaller and weaker, so I dug them up and discovered their roots were encased in hard ceramic clay. No wonder they were dying! I’ve replanted them in huge pots with bought soil, and they’re already improving after two weeks. I’ve found a rose that gets too much sun, as well as a hydrangea with the same trouble, so they’ll be moved (they’re in pots, so that’s easy).
This inventory is not just about amassing a great list of plants. It’s an important tool for the gardener.
Taking inventory tells me a lot about the health of my garden, and it helps me make decisions about moving plants, adding plants, or amending the soil.
I’m listing the plants here, by general type (herbs, indoor plant, tree etc), and I’ll describe groups of plants, called guilds in Permaculture. Note: some things classified as “herbs” are actually large plants, like the mulberry bush. By herbs, I mean plants that I use in herbal remedies.
So here we go!
Herbs
Trees
Bamboos
Annuals (veggies)
Succulents
“Weeds”
Edible Perennials
Just Flowers!
Bushes
Indoor plants
Now that I have this long list, I can look at what is missing.
Perhaps I need more nitrogen fixing plants – I don’t see many here, with the exception of goumi and clover. That’s something I can work on.
Many of these plants are grouped into tree guilds. A tree guild is simply an arrangement of plants around a central tree. Each plant serves a function, and each function is served by more than one plant; for example, an apple tree may have dill planted under it, which attracts pollinators. The tree gives the dill a little shade. Perhaps there is also some southern wood, artemisia, or garlic planted around the tree too. These plants repel pests that might attack the tree. Comfrey is a great addition to a tree guild – it mines the soil with its deep roots and brings up nutrients; if you chop and drop it, it will fertilize the soil and provide great mulch. Try planting it near the dripline of the tree. A berry bush or two will attract more pollinators. You can plant clover as ground cover, if you need some nitrogen fixers, or you can plant strawberries. Both will keep the weeds down and keep the soil from getting parched.
What we’re doing here is mimicking the forest, with its canopy tree, shrubs, vines, root crops (onions and beets do well in a tree guild), herbaceous plants, and ground covers.
In most gardens, you won’t find a huge canopy tree, as that would completely shade the garden. Usually a fruit tree serves as the canopy tree, with shrubs, vines, root vegetables, flowers, and ground covers growing around it.
In my north garden I have four guilds: a medlar guild, a sumac guild, a pineapple guava guild (they can grow like a tree where I live), and a persimmon guild. All of these guilds have aronia berries (for pollinators and food!) and comfrey (bioaccumulator, pollinator, and mulch plant) growing around them. They also have a red currant, hellebores, a red currant, some artichokes (on the sunny edge), a goumi (for nitrogen), haskaps (for food and pollinators), and roses (just because). They also have southern wood and garlic chives for repelling pests. A wild grape has volunteered, and since it is setting fruit, I am keeping it. The only issue with these guilds is mint. It is taking over. I will be pulling out as much as I can, and then I’ll dry it for tea or save some for our rabbit, but I need to plant a ground cover that will keep the mint out, or else it will just take over again. I think I’ll plant some more lavender for the bees, as well. One can look about and see what’s missing in each guild. That’s part of the inventory process.
Not all guilds have such a complex array of plants.
I have a Witch Hazel tree which is surrounded by strawberries, a few hyacinths, and the occasional weed. The space isn’t large enough for a lot of plants, but the tree is flourishing, and I was able to find a spot for some extra strawberry plants. And that’s ok.
I hope I’ve been able to clarify why it’s important to take inventory in the garden. You don’t have to make a huge list, as I have done, but it’s helpful to write down as much as you can. You can make a drawing of your garden and write the names of some of the plants you have. The more you can keep track of what’s living there, the better.
