MUG | Mike's Urban Garden | MUG

Producing Floriferous Gardens in San Francisco’s Mediterranean Climate.

May 21, 2009

Alamo Heights Entry Garden

This entry garden on Fell Street in Alamo Heights was planted a year and a half ago.

Calamagrosti a. 'Karl Foerster' with Rosmarinus o. 'Irene'

Trachelospermum jasminoides and Rosa 'Sally Holmes'

Written by Mike's Urban Garden

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Mike the Gardener

My Path

Garden Fluffer, Personal Gardener, Fine Gardening, Market Gardener these are some of the names I have toyed with as my official title or job description. Most would classify me as a maintenance gardener. But i do things much different than your basic gardening crew. It is all about the process or procedures that I use to make my green spaces.

Simple things, done well. A gardener’s influence on a space is through control. Pruning, thinning, dividing and moving plants around to create an authentic natural look. But this is far from Nature. Step lightly and preen like a large herbivore. Leave all clippings around its source to replenish and shade the soil, creating a good environment for seeds to germinate. Only remove weed seed heads, diseased material and anything sharp like rose thorns, all other green material is made into compost either in a formal pile or as a light mulch. Nothing looks more authentic than a plant mulched with it’s own leaves and twigs. That is my gardening process. Simply well.

This is on top of picking the right plant in the right place. When I am looking to fill a void, no matter if it’s an annual or perennial, tree or shrub, evergreen or deciduous; I start with California and Western US native plants. If nothing fits my requirements (exposure, water, form and floral timing, client preferences) then I look at plants from the other Mediterranean regions of the world.

This blog is my chance to show my work and those things that inspire and influence.

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The Seasons of Mike's Gardens

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All Time MUG Favorites

Potrero Hill Entry Garden

The goal of this garden is to have an ever constant flora display, twelve months a year. It is a challenge at times but the lady of the hou...
Rosa 'Queen of Sweden'

This lovely, so lovely pink rose with matte glaucus leaves is just starting it's first flush of 2018. Along with Wisteria, Santa Barba...
Noe Valley Terraced Garden

I have been taking care of this garden for a couple years now. I am not sure who designed it or built it. I come here on a monthly schedule...
Bonsai Root Pruning

Pruning the roots of this Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) specimen. First tease out the roots with a hook and trim as you go ...
Beth Chatto's Garden

Beth's garden is known for it's dry and wet section. She describes it as "poor gravel soil and boggy hollows." The English...
Arts & Crafts Front Entry Garden - One Year Maintenance Visit

One year after planting, today I detailed this garden: staking, weeding, shearing and deadheading. This is my first garden design to incorp...
Sissinghurst Castle Garden

The second garden on our tour was the impeccable Sissinghurst Castle Garden in Kent. This garden is one of the best, if not the best garden ...
Mike & Frank's Quintessential English Garden Tour

This is it. Frank and I have been planning this trip for 2 years. We're hosting a small group to a journey through the development o...
Richmond Kitchen Deck Garden

MUG Design: Ginkgos, Cedars, Podocarpus, Maples and Jasmine all in large containers; A mix of large asian ceramics and square slate fibergla...
Hollywood Juniper Hedge

Along with Pittosporum 'Golf Ball', Sesleria autumnalis, Achillea millefolium 'Paprika' and the Calla Lily.

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May 21, 2009

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