Ah, it’s that time of year for our annual resolution making when many of us consider improving our health, losing weight, eating more healthy food, getting more exercise, becoming more environmentally conscious, make new acquaintances, learning new things and perhaps having more fun. Mind you, I am not pointing any fingers here, but isn’t this list a universal one? OK, so let me give you (and myself) some inspiration to make this year a great gardening year.
Plant More
That should not be a problem for most of us that wander around garden centers for amusement, buying plants with no idea of where to plant them. Before you go a wandering, research plants online so that you can mix plants in new and exciting ways in your beds or containers.
Think about making your garden space into a relaxing, soothing place where you can unwind and recharge. Plant color palettes that soothe. Consider plants with pleasing scents that act as natural aromatherapy. Plant plants that invite creatures into your space. You will be able to while away some pleasant time observing them in action.
Look for native plants that will grow here and add them to your gardens. They may add to your efforts to invite creatures into your space.
Learn Something New
Take an online gardening course. Urban Harvest (www,urbanharvest.org) offers many courses in growing your own edibles. Check local resources such as Mercer Botanic Gardens, some larger nurseries among others for learning opportunities.
Resolve to keep a garden journal to record your efforts in your garden and learn what works and what doesn’t.
Check out what is trending in garden design online and incorporate something new in your own landscape, be it large or small.
Treat yourself to a new gardening book to expand your knowledge.
Take Care of Wildlife
Encourage beneficial wildlife by building a welcoming ‘home’ for them in your yard.
Add a birdbath to entice birds to bathe and drink. Plant food plants for birds such as fruit bearing shrubs. You can also add feeders aimed at specific types of birds to encourage a diversity. Bird watching can consume many pleasant moments in your day. Visit Birds Unlimited for lots of ideas.
Aim to Reduce Maintenance
Instead of containers full of crispy plants, install a drip system for your pots. You can find ‘how-to’ videos online.
Take better care of your garden tools. Properly maintained tools make a job easier and will save you money by lasting much longer. Buy some quality tools to make your chores easier.
Cut back on that weekly maintenance and water of your lawn by rethinking its size. Plant some low maintenance ground covers and native grasses instead. Mulch under trees instead if fighting grass.
Head off those pests
If deer are chomping your plants, incorporate more deer resistant plants. Note here, that deer resistant does not mean that they are totally safe from being eaten. That depends on how hungry those four-hoofed creatures are.
Take care of pest insects when you first notice them so that they don’t get out of control. Remember that your shadow in the garden will likely be a great deterrent. This means that if you observe changes on a routine basis, you will be more likely to spot a problem early on.
Pesky mosquitoes can be kept to a quiet roar by making sure that all standing water in your yard is emptied. Use mosquito dunks (Bacillus thuringiensis) in spots that do hold water to control their breeding.
Become more environmentally friendly
Start a compost heap with your green waste. You’ll keep more waste out of our already-overloaded landfills and at the same time do something wonderful for your garden soil.
As with pesky creatures, don’t let the weeds get out-of-hand. Pull them when they first become a problem. Certainly don’t use dangerous chemicals to contain them. Weeds are many times indicators of problems with your soil. Learn what they are trying to tell you and correct the problem. Mulch, mulch, mulch! Preferably with the leaves and pine straw from your own trees! Don’t purchase dyed mulch. The dyes used are usually harmful to plants.
Clear out harmful chemical pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers from your garage. Dispose of them in a proper way. Check with Keep Kingwood Green for places where you can take them. Replace them with organic alternatives.
Eat Healthy
If you are new to growing your own vegetables, learn how to start an organic garden. Urban Harvest and our local ag extension service are both great resources.
You need not till up your backyard to grow vegetables. Incorporate them into your existing flower beds to make them beautiful and functional. Your HOA will never know that you are ‘farming’ in your front yard.
Try new vegetables in your garden to expand your culinary experiences. Check out vegetables and fruit trees that are bred to be smaller than their typical cousins. These will fit into large containers.
Try your hand at building a raised bed, especially if your native soil is not optimal. You would be surprised how much food even a small, raised bed can provide.
Get Involved
Volunteer in local gardening endeavors. You are already a garden club member, so that is a good way to start making acquaintances with like-minded folks.
Support the work of the Garden Conservancy, botanic gardens and arboreta by becoming a member or a volunteer.
And, lastly, have some fun
Plant a cutting garden and share bouquets with friends.
Grow your gifts to others. It’s so rewarding and saves money.
Grow some fun plants with the children in your life. If you don’t have any little ones around; join a school gardening project. www.ofegrowers.org
Cook and craft with things from your garden with youngsters. Inspire their young minds.
So, a new year is a fresh start. It is full of promise and new opportunities in life and in your garden. Make the most of 2021! The best to you!
One Response
I loved this article. I didn’t realize other people went to nurseries to have fun. When I’m driving to someplace new and I see an independent nursery, I have to stop in to see what they have. I used to drive my kids crazy doing that. ( kind of like a fabric store).