DIY Network

The Schwarber's: Their Plan, Costs and Products Meet the family and find out the gardening challenge plan. From "Garden Sense" episode DGAR-301

The Schwarber Family

Meet Tom and Lynn Schwarber. They have four children all under the age of three; triplet boys Tommy, Tyler and Trevor and their baby sister Katie. That leaves little time for gardening but the family wants a finished look.

Lynn thinks her yard has a lot of potential and would like for it to resemble a cottage garden. She wants to develop an area where the kids can sit and play and envisions an educational space where they can enjoy nature, watch butterflies, birds and learn how to care for plants and trees.

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Lynn also would love to have an area where she can relax. Having four small children toddler age and younger, she's always busy and would love to be able to sit in a pretty area to watch them play and relax.

Tom feels he doesn't have the time to keep the yard looking good and wants a design that's easy to care for and is educational and looks great.

Gardening Challenge

Before--yard

Before--cottage

After--yard

After--cottage

Required Project Timeline

The Schwarber's garden project took approximately six hours to complete.

Project Details

Walter designed the Schwarber's garden plan with their children in mind. He included flowers with primary colors and a vegetable garden to help them learn about Mother Nature.

• First, we extended and cleared out the beds.
  
• Next, we added five cranberry vibernums. Not only did they provide screening, but the berries will attract birds the kids love.
  
• We then added lots of color from two nanho blue butterfly bushes and three northsky blueberry bushes with this boldly colored fruit.
  
• Then came the vegetable garden so the kids can plant, learn, and snack.
  
• Finally we planted two flower boxes filled with bright yellow dahlias and red verbena.

Gardening by Zip Code If you're looking to start a gardening projectbut don't know your gardening zone—visit the National Gardening Associations's USDA Hardiness Zone Finder. Enter your Zip Code to identify the proper zone.

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