Walking through the village of Abchak in the Minsk district, it's impossible to pass by one particular yard. There, instead of ordinary garden beds, there are tiers of peonies, clematis, and chrysanthemums. Instead of a dull lawn, there's lavender and trailing bamboo-carnation. The owner of this flower kingdom is former designer Aksana Mishuk, who 7 years ago swapped her office for land and now grows more than 70 varieties of chrysanthemums alone, writes pristalica.by.
What Grows in the Garden: From Wild Lupine to Trailing Bamboo
Aksana's garden boasts a multitude of plant species. For instance, there's lupine and aquilegia in various shades. Among the owner's favorites are peonies, irises, ornamental allium, gypsophila, and clematis. In spring, primroses, crocuses, and tulips bloom. A new resident recently appeared – agrostis, or trailing bamboo.
“I started planting it as an experiment. It resembles grass, but it drapes beautifully from the pot. It would definitely suit a green zone, or something more understated,” Aksana shares.
But the foundation of the flower bed is dahlias. The plot features 6 varieties: there are early and later ones, reaching heights of up to 30 cm and up to 60 cm. One of the favorites is the "Black Prince" variety with burgundy-black foliage. There are also tall ones, over a meter, which are used for cutting.
Tiered Arrangement: How the Flowerbeds Are Organized
Aksana approaches planting like a designer: her technique is to arrange flowers in tiers. The lowest level is occupied by primroses and crocuses. A little higher are daylilies and hostas. Above them are dwarf spruces and thujas. Even higher rise peonies, magnolia, lilac, and jasmine. This creates a multi-tiered flowerbed, divided into several zones.
Care Without Fuss: Fertilizing and Plant Care Hacks
Fertilization for all plants is simple and precise. First, nitrogen – for lush foliage. As soon as a flower buds, phosphorus-potassium fertilizers are used (with watering or foliar spraying). Pest and disease treatment is also mandatory.
A little trick: if you don't have the strength to fertilize each flower separately, prolonged-release fertilizer comes to the rescue. It's enough to sprinkle it into the soil, and it will slowly nourish the plants throughout the season.
A separate corner of the garden is dedicated to sage, lavender, veronica, carnations, and many chrysanthemums. Here, all plants are dug into the ground directly in pots – this is a deliberate step to prevent the soil from overheating and requiring frequent watering in the heat. Digging everything up in autumn is difficult, but removing a pot is much easier – this way Aksana makes her autumn work easier in advance.
The large-flowered chrysanthemum deserves special attention. It reacts sensitively to the length of the day: the shorter the day, the faster the bud forms. To get flowers at least until October, Aksana covers the plants with dense dark fabric from 6 PM to 10 AM.
Flower Greenhouses: Pros and Nuances
Greenhouses were set up for delicate, cold-sensitive plants. At low temperatures, the leaves turn purple, so Aksana places heat-loving cultures (such as lobelia) under cover. The only downside is frequent watering. But the upside is much more important.
“There’s no wind in the greenhouse, so the flowers grow more peacefully there. In the wind, a plant might grow at an angle, but in the greenhouse, they stand neat and lush. You need to water them at least once a day.”
Plants in planters can be watered every other day. Special attention should be paid to plants in black pots: they heat up quickly, the soil dries out fast, sometimes requiring watering even twice a day.
Top 3 Plants You Should Definitely Plant
According to Aksana, the plot must definitely have:
- Peonies – if you want a sprawling bush and abundant greenery.
- Hydrangeas – if you're after an impressive flower.
- Chrysanthemums – if you desire powerful, lush blooms.
- And, of course, lavender: it grows beautifully and requires almost no care.
About a year ago, Aksana started growing and selling garden plants. Chrysanthemums were the first to do well: last autumn, she sold about 300 plants. Currently, the plot has about 70 varieties of multiflora, 20 large-flowered, and two types of trailing chrysanthemums.
This year, the resident of Abchak decided to expand her assortment with summer flowers – from ivy and hostas to calibrachoa and dahlias. Thus, a hobby grew into a business, the yard turned into a blooming display, and the garden into flower clouds.
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