The days are getting longer, the seed catalogs are in the mailbox, the plants are greening up. It is time to focus on organizing for the new planting season.
Take a LookBefore you even put a trowel to the ground, take a walk around your yard to see what areas need attention. Make careful notes about tasks and purchases you need to do.
Evaluate YourselfBe honest about your gardening desires and abilities. If your enthusiasm or abilities have changed, concentrate on the areas you see daily rather than planting five areas of annuals. Large planted pots have a big impact and are easier to maintain than full beds.
Get organizedStart with a visual plan of your planting area to help conceptualize the overall plan. Once everything is in place, step back and see how the planning process will flow. If you want to save time, tape paper plans to a few plants and mark the interval you will need to water, deadhead, and care for each plant.
Start smallEven if you have a hundred or more plants, you can start with 10 to 15 chosen varieties. This will give you a good start on an organized menu for annuals and perennials.
PlanNext, make a list of plants that you love. If your favorites are hard to care for, keep these in separate pots. You will be happier planting these varieties together.
Companion PlantsAnother way to save time and money is to choose plants that compliment each other in appearance and care.
Companion plants – good companion plants for each other as well as poor companions. Plants that are liked by many of the plants that you will be growing.
Crop RotationCrop rotation will also help conserve nutrients in the soil and reduce diseases in the growing plants. The idea is that you don’t plant the same type of plant in the same plot of ground for the same amount of time.
Don’t forget weeds!Pulling weeds is a great way to quickly get rid of unwanted visitors. You can also spread mulch or compost over the ground to slow down the decomposition of weeds.
WateringPlace your containers in the garden early in the day to avoid dripping through the soil overnight. Water container plants with a watering can or hose, using water that doesn’t contain strong chemicals such as chlorine. Try not to use automatic watering systems, there are easier ways to water your container plants.
VentilationRaise your container boxes an inch or two off the ground to provide extra air circulation. Container gardening is especially suited to hot, humid climates, where the soil stays moist but the air dries quickly.
Drainage Keep containers well-drained so that water lasts longer and preventsmaidens from becoming stagnant.
FertilizersUse low nitrogen organic fertilizers such as liquid fish and seaweed and only feed when plants are actively growing. Don’t fertilize in hot periods or in the middle of the day.
PruningUse sharp scissors to prevent damaging the root system and produce an unkempt appearance. Also prune: every other week for produce and herbs, every three weeks for fruiting and shrubs.
WateringWater plants regularly to prevent them from dehydrating. Drenching is more likely to kill plants than underwatering. Cover the soil around the base of the plant with mulch or soil to prevent excess moisture.
GroomingYou can also grow plants through the winter in the cupboard underneath the stairs.
Other Ways to Childscape Them
Trellis cast iron plants grow upright and develop a sturdy frame that can be trained up poles or trained around fences.
Wigwams are very summer-friendly but need to be covered over with a pretty polyethylene tent in colder months.
Golves are winter-friendly easy to care for and train.
Use trellises that are easy to hand-punch and Bend is a good skill for the young and old alike.
Compact fluorescent grow lights are available that can be placed at the end of small PVC pipes. If you use these lights, they should come with a metal ballast. Indoor plants that are difficult to grow such as aromatics and hostas do better when grown under these types of lights.
