Landscape Vision Guide
The Woodland Glade
A cottage property in Haliburton County
Cottage Woodland Garden — Naturalistic Native Planting · Vision Guide — July 2025
Before 
After Planting is in. Sod removal and mulching wrapped up earlier in May 2026: approximately two inches of undyed forest mulch across the house-side garden, a thicker layer along the paths, and the septic leach bed left unmulched so plants could be set directly into the prepared soil. The bulk of the design went in over May 21–22 — the sedge matrix across the septic bed, forbs and grasses weaving through the house-side garden, and the structural shrubs and ferns anchoring the edges and the trellis. A small number of species weren't ready at the nursery in time for this round and will be added in a follow-up visit. Overall the install came together well and reads as a coherent woodland community from the very first day.
Planting areas: House-Side Garden · Woodland Septic Garden
The design creates two distinct but complementary areas. The woodland septic garden works within the constraints of the leach bed — a dense sedge matrix of four species forming the ground layer, stress-tolerant forbs providing seasonal interest, and shrubs positioned outside the leach bed boundary to provide screening and structure. The focus is on ground-level texture and a coherent woodland floor.
The house-side garden takes advantage of its better growing conditions and visual prominence — it's what's seen from the front door and deck. The treatment here is more layered and gardenesque, with architectural plants like Ostrich Fern and Flowering Raspberry creating drama near the trellis, and a rich mix of forbs weaving through. Shrubs strategically placed toward the garden's end screen the septic area from house views.
Site preparation involved removing existing grass with a sod-cutter, followed by approximately two inches of undyed forest mulch to suppress weeds while the planting establishes. No mulch was applied over the leach bed itself, as this could affect septic system function. The entire plant community was chosen with the clients' occupancy pattern in mind — late spring through summer — favouring species that perform during the clients' time on the property, while providing year-round ecological function. All species show strong deer resistance.
Click any plant to see its photo, rationale, and growing details.
May 2026
