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Articles by Jeff Epping
on the rocks
Jeff Epping is the first to admit that gravel gardens have a branding problem. “They sound harsh, dry, and colorless,” he says, “but the name doesn’t do them justice. Gravel gardens are as beautiful as any garden out there.
Touring an Eco-friendly, Shady Backyard Retreat
You must be careful when you enter the backyard of garden designer Jeff Epping—not because you’re likely to trip on something, but because you might be dive-bombed by a pair of nesting hummingbirds, or a bevy of butterflies, or any number of other pollinators that make this shady midwestern garden their home. Jeff Epping is the principal designer at Epping Design and Consulting and the former director of horticulture at Olbrich Botanical Gardens in Madison, Wisconsin.
Design an Engaging, Naturalistic Garden in the Shade - Plant IDs
Starting a new garden from scratch can be daunting, but it’s also a fantastic opportunity to create exactly what you want. The vision I had for my new garden (two decades ago) was based on the many small English gardens that I was lucky enough to visit—not the gardens with impeccably maintained lawns and neatly clipped hedges, but those that had plants spilling out of every nook and cranny.
Design an Engaging, Naturalistic Garden in the Shade Original
Twenty-five years ago when my wife Kathy and I started searching for a new home for our growing family, she focused on all the qualities one looks for in a new house. I, of course, looked at what every gardener considers imperative—the lot. Thanks to Kathy, we ended up with a wonderful new place. And much to my delight, the property had one particularly important feature—good soil.
5 Simple Steps for Creating a More Eco-Friendly Garden
For years I’ve heard the same refrain: You can’t have a good-looking garden that is also eco-friendly. It seems that many folks think native plants are too wild looking and that taking a lighter approach to garden cleanup or care will lead to a messy, unkempt landscape. I argue that there are small steps everyone can take to encourage greater biodiversity in their space, all while keeping it attractive.
Who Needs a Gold Bar When You Have a Gold Pagoda Dogwood?
This member-only article is part of our All Access subscription. Member only Photo: Mark Dwyer Photo: Mark Dwyer Name: Gold Bullion™ pagoda dogwood (Cornus alternifolia ‘Bachone’) Zones: 3–7 Size: 8 to 10 feet tall and wide Conditions: Partial shade; moist, well-drained soil Native Range: Eastern North America I can still remember seeing this beauty for the first time.
How to Create a Gravel Garden
When you conjure up an image of a gravel garden, it probably isn’t very fun or colorful. Many people picture a sea of hot, dry gravel, some harsh, craggy rocks, and a handful of plain green, sparsely growing plants. This image might be right on the money if we were talking about mountainous alpine rock gardens, but the gravel gardens that I’ve helped create here at the Olbrich Botanical Gardens are different. Why would you want to have a gravel garden?
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