Five years ago I recommended taking gardening at a steady pace, I could have called it slower gardening. Shortly I will give some tips on slower gardening but as a reminder some oak, conifers and other trees come into their own when they are 1000 years old.

Who Are Slower Gardeners

A slower gardener has infinite patience and may be of any age and from any sex.
Gardeners who are growing for future generations and those who take environmental issues seriously.
The mature gardener who ‘potters’ rather than double digs like they used too.
Garden visitors who support open gardens, national collections and boutique nurseries who grow their own.

Tips for Slower Gardeners

Embrace natural gardens.
Use your brain not your brawn. Cut grass less often, reduce the number of annuals you grow, aim for a low maintenance garden.
Give trees and shrubs the space to live and develop.
Sit back with a drink and drink in the beauty of your garden more often.
Do not sweat the small stuff – nature will be the long term winner despite you not because of what you do.

Plants for Slower Gardeners

Long lived houseplants such as Aspidistra can appeal to the slower gardener.
Do not expect instant colour or optimum shape and form from new plants. Good things take time.
Naturalised bulbs like crocus and narcissus are good for slower growers
Take up topiary or bonsai to see how slow some plants are to develop.
Remember pruning can encourage more new growth so save your self a job.

The monks habit of growing in grass.
Photo Credits
Old Cottonwood Tree by David~O 2.0 Generic
how old are yew? by __andrewCC BY-NC 2.0