Maija-Leena’s atmospheric garden on a shoestring: “I’m very frugal and try to save on everything”

Golden-yellow birch leaves swirl in the wind as the temperature hovers near freezing. In Maija-Leena Kangasmäki’s garden, there’s a calm late-autumn atmosphere. The only sounds come from thrushes chattering in the trees and from the brisk swish of Maija-Leena’s rake as she sweeps leaves into perennial beds.

“I want the lawn to be visible. I don’t believe all these leaves would just disappear over winter if I left them. We have so many trees here,” she says, gesturing with her rake toward the trees lining the garden.

Still, Maija-Leena intentionally leaves some leaf piles in place, hoping they might entice the hedgehogs that occasionally visit to settle in for good.

The towering birches and gnarled apple trees date back to when the Kangasmäkis’ single-family home lot was split off from a neighboring property once used as a summer cabin. When the house was built 20 years ago, they tried to preserve as much of the original lush growth as possible, but to Maija-Leena’s regret, they had to remove a magnificent larch. From its precious wood, they shaped a seating set that now sits under a birch at the edge of the garden.

“When we built, there was no budget for plants, so we first chose spireas and other inexpensive seedlings. We also saved by not bringing in any new topsoil. It’s all silt here.”

The property’s longstanding vegetation and the affordable staple plants purchased in the early years have proven an excellent choice, as they’re not overly fussy about care or growing conditions. They form a reliable foundation for the garden, which Maija-Leena has enriched over the years with special additions like hydrangeas and evergreens. She isn’t very interested in rare plants.

“I’m very frugal and try to save on everything—the greenhouse was even a late-night bargain at the Stockmann department store's big discount sale. I swap a lot of plants and propagate them from seeds, divisions, and cuttings. Lately, I’ve been getting excited about grasses and ferns. The plant swaps at the local garden society are full of temptations.”

For Maija-Leena, propagating plants is the most fun part of gardening. She has rooted cuttings of, for example, snowball viburnum and smooth hydrangeas. In late summer and throughout fall, she walks around the yard collecting seeds for winter sowing. By October, she already has a large box full of them.

Right now, the loveliest plants in Maija-Leena’s view are still the cranberry-pink blooms of the showy stonecrops and the dark-hued baneberry ‘Brunette.’ A few days ago, she would also have included burnets, but their time is already past.

None of Maija-Leena’s favorites feature blazing fall colors. The climbing hydrangea up the apple tree’s knobby trunk, the hostas, and the lace shrub in front of the deck all turn warm shades of yellow in the fall, but she didn’t choose them for their autumn color.

“My taste is so limited that I prefer a more subdued color scheme. In the fall, my garden features many shades of yellow and green. The evergreens keep it lush during this season as well.”

Maija-Leena continues her garden chores well into late autumn. To simplify spring work, she cuts back most of the perennials now. Over the years, she’s noted which ones will flop in the first sleet anyway. Astilbes and ferns, which remain upright gracefully, stay until spring. She leaves globe thistles for goldfinches.

Garden decor is an important part of the hobby. In fall, Maija-Leena twists wreaths from her own garden’s materials and arranges small displays around the yard. Her latest project is homemade concrete pumpkins [in Finnish].

Many gardeners protect plants that rabbits like to munch on during winter, but Maija-Leena chooses not to.

“I think the rabbits were here before us, so I’m a bit softhearted about them, even though they sometimes eat a plant so thoroughly it won’t bloom the following year. Maybe I’d feel differently if an entire deer herd moved in.”

Fall is also planting season. A thrifty gardener can find wonderful deals at garden center clearance sales. Maija-Leena smiles, recalling one year she bought peonies for a single euro.

“Basically, I don’t like disposable plants, which so many fancy tulips practically are. I’d rather plant more snowdrops from bulbs so they spread wider.”