Fieldwork notes · September 2026 · Fieldwork journal
A young garden should have breathing room
The spaces between new plants are often intentional. Planting for the mature size helps prevent crowding later. If the garden feels sparse at first, ask how the planting is expected to develop over the next few seasons.
Pay attention, then adjust
A simple habit of walking through the garden helps you notice dry areas, damaged growth or a plant that seems unhappy. Record what you see before changing several things at once. Small, timely adjustments are often more useful than a dramatic intervention.
Let the care plan follow the season
The right task at the wrong time can make extra work. Use the handover plan as your starting point for watering, pruning and soil care, and revisit it when the weather or planting changes.
Keep a few photographs
Take a picture from the same spot every month or two. It is a useful way to see how the garden is filling in and to remember what happened in each season. Growth is easy to miss when you see the space every day.