Gardening is never boring! Every season is different. And every new season is a new chance to learn and experiment, assess the good and the not-so-good, adjust course, improve my skills, build on past successes and learn even more!
But there are a few fundamentals that really help to ensure a good start to the season-- whether your working an existing garden, planting a new garden, or beginning your FIRST garden! Paying attention to few key things can go a long way to making your garden so much more resilient to whatever challenges the season will bring!
One of the key principles of organic gardening is to prevent problems rather than trying to fix them after they hit. Now you can't anticipate everything-- but paying close attention to these fundamentals will help you play defense! Ready? Let's get started!
My #1 Fundamental is-- the Right Plant in the RIGHT Place!
Every plant has a wish list-- all the things it needs for an ideal growing environment! If you know what that ideal environment is-- you're on your way to growing plants that are more vigorous and more resistant to pests and diseases.
As gardeners we often put plants where we have space, or where we want them to go-- instead of where they should go! Sun-loving annuals won't do well in a shady yard or under a tree. Shade loving perennials won't last for long in full-sun. If you make these mistakes, you'll find yourself literally trying to 'nurse' your plants along, as they start to stress and loose vigor.
It's kinda like the real estate mantra-- location, location, location! Just as having the right location for a business can make or break a start-up business, so too with your plants! Location has everything to do with the success of your plant and your garden. Let that mantra ring in your head as you plan your garden...
Location, location, location!
If you pay attention to location and place your plants where they'll be happiest, they will reward you with minimal care. You won't be nursing them along.
We know that healthier plants are more resistant to pests and diseases and are more resilient even when attacked. They rarely require our intervention.
Plants that do best in full sun, will not thrive in shade. Plants that thrive in shade, will quickly stress in full sun. Plants that do best in dry conditions, will barely survive in wet soil-- and vice versa.
It may seem like common sense. BUT ignoring this basic premise of "location, location, location" is an all too common mistake.
Stress can kill
Just as stress does terrible things to human health, creating a domino effect in our own systems-- a plant that is under stress won't look or perform at its best. And more often than not the problems were preventable-- the most common reason is improper site selection in the garden.
Our natural reaction, though, is to try and ‘fix” the problem. We reach for the 'silver bullets' thinking-- we need extra fertilizer, maybe the plant just doesn't have what it needs! Or when the plant is attacked by pests or disease, we reach for a fix thinking that will take care of the 'problem'.
But actuality, that’s treating the symptoms and not the root cause-- which only compounds the problem! Stressed plants that are trying to survive in a inhospitable environment are already stressed out and are using all the reserves they have to survive. Indiscriminately applying a 'fix' only compounds the problem.
An ounce of prevention
Recall that key principle of organic gardening-- to prevent problems rather than trying to 'fix' them after they occur. Plants in the right place won’t need to be 'fixed'. They’ll do great all on their own. It sounds so simple.
And if you know the ideal conditions for that plant, it really is that simple. But if you're like me, we often fall in love with a plant on sight-- never knowing much about what it needs to survive and thrive and where we'll plant it.
So to help you get the right plant in the right place-- here are some tips to get it right!
Know your yard and gardens
What zone are you in? Just click this link and type in your zip code. This will help you know your zone, your average first and last frost dates, and how long your growing season is. This information will help you choose plants that are the most well suited to your environment.
Now go to Google Earth, search for your address and zoom in to view your yard. Take a screenshot from up above. This is a map of your yard! Identify where you have full sun. Where is there full shade? Where is it a combo? How many hours of sun or shade is there during the growing season?
What about moisture? Where is the soil damp? Where is it dry? Good drainage or swampy?
How does your sunshine map overlap with the moisture map? Dry sun? Moist sun? Dry shade? Moist shade? These are important considerations when trying to place plants in the right location.
What about the soil itself? What is the history of the soil for those locations where you might want to plant a vegetable, herb or flower garden? Was it lawn? Was there recent construction? Disruption of the soil? Was the soil brought in from somewhere?
These are important considerations and may warrant soil testing for salinity, alkalinity, or toxins that could inhibit plant growth. Consulting with your local county extension office may help you uncover and diagnosis these issues.
Know your plants
Now you get to research possibilities! There is so much information literally at your fingertips! You can find a host of resources from universities, garden forums, articles, blog posts, etc. Or you type in some simple searches like moist shade annual flowers zone 4. You'll find numerous plants that fit different locations in your yard and garden.
You can research our website by finding the little magnifying glass icon in the upper left corner-- type your keywords like 'moist shade' and hit return. Now read the growing instructions for each of the seeds you want to consider growing.
Or use our drop down menus under 'Shop Organic Seeds' to find the crops and varieties you want to grow. Click into their pages and read the growing instructions for each. Now place them on your map in the most suitable location.
You could also make a list of locations and desired traits and make a trip to your garden center. All the plants have a tag that tells you the preferred growing conditions related to sun, shade and moisture levels. And many will have a QR code you can scan and pull up all kinds of information to help you be more successful at placement and maintenance!
Know your plan
Plant the right plant in the right location! If you get it right, you can prevent many plant maintenance problems. Happy, healthy plants will repel pests and disease.
Doing your research and due diligence to get those growing conditions right will pay dividends throughout the growing season. Know your plants, meet their needs, and they will fulfill your dreams! Location, location, location!
Your garden coach,
Theresa