A front garden thrives in Vergennes clay
The client’s goal was a lively, naturalistic front garden—something expressive, but still appropriate for a new neighborhood. The design uses plants adapted to Vergennes clay and leans into the site’s connection to the sidewalk.
The concept: Celebrate the walkable neighborhood. Extend the planting from the front porch to the sidewalk
Before: The newly built home sits on a slight rise in a new neighborhood—lots of lawn, clay soil, and little connection to the sidewalk
The concept includes a honeylocust tree, which will help "reforest" the new neighborhood.
To prepare the site, the existing lawn was smothered under black plastic for several months. Once the turf had decomposed, the dead grass was tilled in to add organic matter to the clay soil.
Bluestone steps and pavers—accented with chunks of local Panton stone—link the porch to the sidewalk and ground the garden in the local geology.
By the end of the first season, the clay-tolerant plants were thriving—despite a late-summer dry spell.
Trade partners
Restless Native VT, Inc.
Stonework
https://restlessnativevt.com/
Dicot Landscape Studio
Bed preparation and planting
https://dicotlandstudio.com/