Brookfield/Elm Grove Monthly

By Christopher Bennett Special to The Freeman NEW BERLIN — Like every other activity, there is that which is hot and that which is not in the world of gardening. Water conservation and growing in a small space are the hallmarks of the current trendy activities in the gar- dening industry, said Todd Ruedt. Ruedt is the owner of Grounds Maintenance Ser- vices in New Berlin, and said rain gardens and con- tainer gardening are among the go-to topics right now among gardeners. "Rain gardens are big right now, because it takes care of water runoff on the property," Ruedt said. "Peo- ple can put the water from their gutters or sump pumps in an area and then let natu- ral plants go in there." Ruedt said a simple defini- tion for a rain garden is a dug-out, sort of what he said is a depression, in one's yard "Consider it to be almost like a small pond, usually 10 to 12 feet in diameter at a minimum," Ruedt said. "They get to be about 12 inches to 18 inches in depth." Rain gardens are not designed as a permanent area to hold water — you are not digging a pond. The garden functions more as a temporary reten- tion area for water on the property. "The native plants that go in rain gardens absorb that moisture and make it look like there isn't a depression," Ruedt said. "When you have heavy rains, your gutter water goes to this area instead of all over the yard." One must obviously work to direct drainage from a property to the rain garden for it to function effectively. Ruedt said it is best to feature native plants in a rain garden because they are acclimated to the cli- mate. "We have high moisture in the spring and hot, warm, dry conditions in the summer," Ruedt said. "(Native plants) are able to adjust to all those conditions — of being flooded in the spring and dry in the sum- mer." Bear in mind you will like- ly not turn a sprinkler on a rain garden. The feature is meant to live solely on runoff water. The website of the Envi- ronmental Protection Agen- cy contains an extensive primer on how to construct and maintain a rain garden. Go to http://www.epa.gov and type "rain garden" in the search bar. An abun- dance of information is available. Containers in context Container gardening, whether for beauty or food, is also quite popular. Con- tainer gardening is not just for those short on space. On the whole, container garden- ing makes plants portable. "It brings the plant in clos- er to the home," Ruedt said. "The container beautifies the home space." If the potted product is herbs, the container can be kept close so the contents can be easily accessed for cooking. If the potted prod- uct is flowers, the plant can be kept wherever the owner likes and can be easily swapped out to better suit one's desires. "Container" is broad, by definition, and can mean any number of receptacles. Potted plants can be utilized. Instructions abound online for building above-ground wooden boxes, most notably for vegetable gardening. "It kind of downsizes the traditional garden," Ruedt said. "It's a lot easier for you to control the water and fer- tilizer, and any weed control is easier." Pay close attention to the topic of water when contain- er gardening. The plants will need plenty of water if they are enclosed and can- not extend roots in search of moisture, said Carole Hopp with the Elm Grove Garden Club and Chris Simon of Simon's Gardens in Muk- wonago and Brookfield. Ruedt said the trend toward container gardening started in densely populated urban areas, such as Mil- waukee, but quickly gravi- tated to the suburbs because it easy to maintain and enjoy. Ruedt and Grounds Main- tenance Services can be reached at 262-784-8219 or at https://www.groundsmain- tenancewi.com for more information on either rain gardens or container gar- dening. 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PIN 04275 241177007 LUXURY PORTFOLIO LUXURY PORTFOLIO LUXURY PORTFOLIO By Christopher Bennett Special to The Freeman BROOKFIELD — A lack of funds might mean one lacks green, but it does not need to mean you lack the plants or joy derived from the beauty of gardening. You do not need to do any- thing elaborate or involved to enjoy the simple pleasure of cultivating something and watching it grow. Gardening in a small space is, right now, quite popular. As a result, an abundance of resources and equipment exist to help those living in some- thing as small as a studio apartment brighten their life through gardening. Judy Newman is president of the Elmbrook Garden Club, which is more than 50 years old. Newman joined the club in 1971 and lives in Menomonee Falls, just a few blocks from Brookfield. If you are starting small, in terms of both space and money, Newman advises you to try container gardening. "You can grow vegetables in containers," Newman said. The nice thing about them is you can move them from one area to another. You can also grow flowers." Newman's garden sits on a half-acre, and she said she con- tainer gardens because it is accessible and portable. "I use containers to bring them up on the deck," New- man said. "I bring my plants closer to me for the visual beauty." Containers also allow one the luxury of being current with the time of the year or holidays. "I can change them out, in the front yard or by the entry," Newman said. "I can have a couple of them and move them back and forth depending on the season." Contained enthusiasm Newman's experience speaks to the popularity of container gardening. Todd Ruedt, owner of Grounds Maintenance Services in New Berlin, said container garden- ing started in urban areas, and grew in popularity to the point where suburbanites adapted the ideas for their own. Newman is referring to bas- kets or plants when she men- tions containers. Subsets of container gardening exist encompassing everything from a 10-foot-by-10-foot wood- en box to gardening in 40-gal- lon plastic bins. Keep in mind that dirt is dead weight, and dead weight is heavy. Consider this simple fact when deciding the degree to which you want to container garden. Container gardens can be used for beauty, food or both. "Tomatoes are really a lot of fun," Newman said. "You can put supports inside the con- tainer, like a trellis or a ring. It will just go right up." Newman also said peppers work well in small containers, as do a wide variety of herbs and spices. "Rosemary, thyme — all of those will grow well in a con- tainer," Newman said. Lettuce, strawberries and peas also grow well in contain- er gardens. Avoid root vegeta- bles, like turnips or carrots. Some special baskets that allow for upside down growing are available, and accommo- date some plants well. Regarding flowers, Newman said she is a fan of geraniums and the coleus. "Scented geraniums are wonderful in containers," Newman said. "They have a wonderful aroma, which is really cool — chocolate, lemon- ade, nutmeg — all different kinds." Newman said coleuses offer a wide range of color that con- tinues all summer long. When buying plants, be sure to purchase those appropriate for Wisconsin. Place them in an appropriate place in your living space, and be sure they get the correct amount of sun and water. Newman said she did not see the initial investment for con- tainer gardening to be pro- hibitive, and said garage sales and end-of-season sales are good options for the cost-con- scious gardener-to-be. Packets of seed, planters, bags of soil and fertilizer are all one really needs. Vegetables might require additional equipment, in the form of a wire cage or trellis. A beginning gardener short on space and an abundance of cash is just a few hours away from opening their home to a collection of plants. One could visit a nursery for an after- noon, spend $50 to $100, and acquire all the supplies neces- sary to begin container gar- dening, whether for the dinner table or to please the eye and soul. Container gardens work for any space, budget New ideas changing garden designs Rain gardens, containers among hottest trends in gardening "Rain gardens are big right now, because it takes care of water runoff on the property. People can put the water from their gutters or sump pumps in an area and then let natural plants go in there." — Todd Ruedt, of Grounds Maintenance Services in New Berlin

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