As I was working in our garden planting vegetables this season, I came to the realization that I did not have enough space for all our tomato seedlings. Now, that doesn’t usually bother me because I grow more seedlings than I will plant. However, I was lacking a full bed. Therefore, I went back to my plan and discovered that I over planted carrots, radishes, swiss chard, and arugula. This simple mistake got me thinking of all the mistakes I have made over the years and how I keep the joy in gardening even with mistakes. In this blog post, I share my top 10 tips to keep the joy in gardening based upon all the lessons I have learned while gardening.
I believe that there is subtle magnetism in Nature, which if we unconsciously yield to it will direct us aright.
– Henry David Thoreau
01 Planning
For many years I did not thoughtfully plan either my vegetable or flower garden. Thankfully, my husband is a much better planner and the sections he planted usually had better performance and beauty. When my vegetable garden grew to 400 square feet of beds, planning became extremely important. I did a lot of research and learned about crop rotation. With that information, I developed a three-year crop rotation plan. If you would like to see how I went about developing that plan, check out my post titled “Crop Rotation for the Home Gardener”.
It’s equally important to plan out the placement of flowers, shrubs, and trees. For many years, I would go to the garden center, see a plant I like and purchase. I wouldn’t even look at the tag to see if it needed sun or shade. Then I would proudly come home with my plant and begin to think about where to place. Trust, me that’s not the best way to plan your garden.
One year I had the opportunity to work with a truly knowledgeable gardener. In planning out a design, the first thing she did was take measurements. From that point, it was about plant selection considering seasonal interest, color, fragrance, size, light, and texture. Lastly, I learned that you should consider groupings of at least three of the same plant. Having multiple plants that are the same has a much greater impact than just one plant. Finally, remember to do what you like and what will give you a sense of joy.
02 Right plant, right place
Just like you and I, plants have preferences. Plants need a spot that matches their preferences and growth. For example, some plants like full sun while others prefer shade. If you do not pay attention to the preferences of plants, they will not thrive, and you will wonder why. When you decide to purchase plants, spend some time evaluating the location where they will be planted and how much time you are willing to fuss with them. Some things to consider and research:
- Does your location receive 6 hours of direct sun each day? If yes, look for plants that like full sun. Otherwise, you may need to consider plants that prefer shade or part sun.
- What type of soil do you have? Clay soil holds water longer than sandy soil. If the plant you choose prefers lots of moisture and you have sandy soil, you may spend more time watering. If you do not have the time, then look for plants that are drought tolerant.
- How large (wide and tall) will the plant grow? Position the plant (tree or shrub) appropriately for the size. When we moved into our home, the plants around the house were only two years old. Slowly over the years, the evergreens became too large and had to be removed.
- Is the plant suited to your USDA hardiness zone? You may purchase what you believe is a perennial, but it’s not hardy in your zone and thus acts as an annual. That can be a frustrating and disappointing mistake.
- Will the plant be exposed to high wind and/or salt? This is an important consideration if you live near the ocean. Both wind and salt can take a toll on plants if they are not suited for these conditions.
03 Quality
When you make an investment in designing your landscape, buy quality plants (healthy and vigorous) from a reputable seller. Ask friends where they purchase plants and ask them what they like about the seller. Is the seller knowledgeable, are the plants guaranteed, is there a wide selection, is the garden center organized (e.g. deer-resistant plants grouped, shade plants grouped)? Next, inspect the plants. Examine the foliage looking for signs of disease or insects. While it’s tempting to buy plants that have lots of flowers, a plant will acclimate better if it’s in the bud stage.
04 Tools
Your life as a gardener will be much easier with the right tools. I have accumulated many of the right tools over the years. When I started gardening, I had a few basic hand tools, a hard rake, and a shovel. The tools you need will depend upon the type of gardening and the amount of time you spend outdoors. Because I average 3 plus hours a day in the garden, it’s important to have tools that make work easier. Here are a few tools that have saved me time and patience:
- Garden gloves are an absolute essential in the garden for several reasons. They keep your hands and fingernails clean. They provide a barrier to vegetation and insects that can cause skin irritation.
- Waterproof garden shoes are an equally important tool when working in the garden. For years I had been wearing old sneakers in the garden. I would become frustrated when my feet, socks, and shoes all became wet.
- It doesn’t matter how young or old you are, having something comfortable to kneel upon (garden kneeler) when working in the garden is essential.
- Pruners allow you to keep control of the plants in your yard. Inevitably, you will need to cut branches and trim shrubs and trees. Investing in good quality pruners will same you time and frustration. The most popular pruners are bypass pruners that have two curved blades and slide past each other when they close.
- Hori Hori soil knife. This is a small 7-inch knife that is sharp on both sides, but one side has serrated edges. It’s great for digging up plants, weeding, and cutting stems. The blade also has inch and meter measurements on the blade. This is great for measuring planting depth. I use this extensively in my vegetable garden to dig up onions, carrots, radishes, and garlic. In addition, it’s great for cutting cabbage and bok choy at the bottom stem.
05 Preventive maintenance for your tools
I know, you just finished working in the garden and are tired. The last thing you want to do is clean your tools. However, this is an important step that you will appreciate the next time the tool is needed. Here are a few suggestions:
- Wash the dirt off all tools after use. Dry with a clean rag.
- For tools that have moving parts, such as pruners, oil regularly. If the tool gets rust on the blade, use steel wool to remove.
- Disinfect any tool that is used to cut plants with a diluted mixture of bleach and water (one-part bleach to 9 parts water).
- Store tools in a clean, dry environment.
06 Fertilize
Just like you and I need nutrients to thrive, so do most plants. First, understand what fertilizer is appropriate for each individual plant and don’t overfertilize. To understand what nutrients are needed, talk to the garden center, or do your own research. A general-purpose fertilizer with an NPK “nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium” of 16-4-8, 12-6-6 or 12-4-8, is generally recommended. Plants should be fertilized at the time of active root growth which is usually in the spring.
- Most flowering trees, shrubs, perennials, and vegetables benefit from being fertilized once or twice during the growing season. Trees and shrubs should be fertilized around the drip line of the tree/shrub (e.g. outermost circumference of the plant). Do not fertilize in the heat of summer as plants need water to absorb the nutrients in the fertilizer.
- Annuals planted in the ground or containers, benefit from an application of slow-release fertilization at planting. In addition, annuals should be supplemented with a weekly liquid fertilizer.
- Vegetables also benefit from fertilization. In my vegetable garden, I research each vegetable to understand what is needed. Vegetables may require different nutrients based upon their growth stage and whether or not they produce fruit. Before planting and fertilizing, have a soil test performed. For more information, read my blog post titled “Five Steps to Starting a Vegetable Garden”.
07 Use fresh seeds
If you start plants from seeds, use seeds that have been packaged for the current growing season. You will be rewarded with germination rates above 80%. While many seeds can be stored for 2- 5 years, germination will decrease over time. Now, I must admit, I do save unused seeds from one year to the next. I do this with the understanding that germination may be impacted. I guess it’s all based upon the level of risk you are willing to take.
08 Have patience
Yes, gardening takes patience. Whatever can go wrong, will go wrong. I like to think of gardening as a constant experiment because nature is in a constant state of change. What worked well in one growing season may not work well in the next season. For me, there is joy in trying new ideas/experiments in my garden.
09 Take breaks to rejuvenate
Gardening can be hard work. It’s easy to get carried away and work straight for multiple hours. Take frequent breaks to rejuvenate. Find a spot in your garden and just relax. For me, I like to sit on our backyard deck. From there I can see both the vegetable and flower garden. I set a timer on my phone for 30-45 minutes and then take a 5-15-minute break. This break rejuvenates me and gives me time to think and adjust my work as needed. Gardening should be enjoyable and joyful, breaks help to keep you healthy, joyful, and happy in the garden.
10 Mother Nature rules
The best laid plans can be undone in an instant by mother nature. If you think about it, when we garden, we are actually trying to compete with mother nature. We fight weeds, we fight the weather, we fight insects, disease, and animals. Yes, the sooner we accept the fact that mother nature rules, the happier we will be in the garden.
I hope you have found these 10 tips to keep the joy in gardening helpful. There is nothing like the feeling of accomplishment that comes from seeing something beautiful grow.
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