Adam Woodruff LLC

Profoundly saddened by the news of Nigel Dunnett's passing today. He had a huge influence on my work and the work of so many others. Nigel felt that when we design in a way that's tuned to nature, more ecological, more nature-like, that's what makes the work even more artful. Because that's when we reach deep connections with people. That's when we liberate powerful emotions and a connection to nature. Condolences to his family, friends, and the design community. Thank you, Nigel.

How do you manage weeds in a naturalistic garden?

It’s the most common question I get. And I understand the fear—you’ve seen gardens fail because they were overwhelmed.

Here’s the approach: plants are installed at 15” on center. Shredded leaf compost is applied around each plant to suppress weeds and retain moisture. That’s year one only—I don’t mulch after that.

Year one requires commitment. Frequent weeding, sometimes weekly. But by year two, the canopy starts closing. By year three, the plants have knit together into a community that outcompetes most weeds on its own. That’s not to say there’s no ongoing maintenance, because there is—grooming and editing take the place of weeding.

The work is front-loaded. The payoff is a garden that maintains itself.