Garden, Gardener, Gardening

I like the word garden.

I don’t like the words “gardener” or “gardening,” as in “I’m a gardener” or “I like gardening.” It reminds of those Bree Van DeKamp, Connecticut housewife types that say they like gardening, but manage to keep their gloves pristine and fingernails in tact. They wear delicate straw hats, cutesy aprons and never seem to break a sweat. Their roses are remarkable. And, Japanese beetle, is never a word in their vocabulary.

Desperate housewife, I am not. Expert gardener, I am not, and every year, I dig back in anyway. And when I “garden,” I end up wearing dirt like it’s a second skin. I barely know how to take care of the roses I have. I still mourn the loss of perennials planted one season, never to return. I still haven’t determined if gardening is a hobby or a contact sport.

Yes, I like to garden. Love, actually. I never thought I would be the type to love gardening. It was never something I did growing up. Perhaps home ownership brought it out in me. Or, Martha Stewart. There’s just something about taking soil into your own hands (literally) to produce something of beauty. Something appreciated by friends and neighbors. I’m sure my neighbors would appreciate me a lot more if I could get certain areas of the yard under control, but I digress…

Spring is back and so am I. Making up my own rules, learning from my mistakes and creating my own expertise.

Stop What You're Doing

I was on an evening bike ride when I observed a woman in the neighborhood lightly showering the flowers in her yard. It occurred to me that it's never too late to promote proper watering technique.

Yes, there are right and wrong ways to water your flowers. The "showering technique" would be in the wrong category.

First off, morning is always best, which allows the roots to soak up most of the water before the afternoon heat kicks in. If you water on a hot summer afternoon, most of that water is just going to evaporate. Additionally, late evening waterings are no good because the wet, cool soil can lead to mildew and other plant diseases.

Secondly, go for the roots only. Your actual flowers and buds really don't need a drink. And water that accumulates on leaves and stems can also lead to disease. Give it to the roots. That may mean you have to lunge, squat and contort your body in all sorts of ways to get to that container in the back of your garden, but your flowers will thank you for it. And bonus, you get your leg workout for the day. If you do want to take the easy way out, at least opt for a soaker hose and skip the ineffective oscillating sprinkler. If you have tricky areas, invest in a hose wand to give you some extra reach.

Lastly, quality over quantity. You may feel compelled to shower your flowers for a few minutes every day. Stop. Brief sprinklings promote shallow roots, which cause flowers to dry out quicker and can lead to overall poor performance. You're much better off to water just a few times a week, but when you're watering, go for the roots and just hold the hose there for 10, 20, 30 seconds, until the water starts to pool a bit. Then let it drain. Repeat if necessary. Longer, deeper waterings promote healthy root development.

As we get closer to fall, proper watering technique is also crucial as you start to divide/replant, or plant new bulbs and perennials. Same rules apply. Healthy roots now result in fabulous flowers in the spring!

Gardening Buzzkill

If you have gardens, you most likely have pests of some sort such as slugs, aphids and the dreaded Japanese beetle (among several other types of beetles.) Believe it or not, there are several bugs that are extremely beneficial to the garden including ladybugs, soldier bugs and lacewing bugs.

This year, the bane of my existence has been the four lined bug. While this pest is typically attracted to herbs, I have found it feasting on my daisies, Russian sage and in my containers. Four lined bugs suck the life out of leaves, but not the blooms, leaving brown/black spots and often holes that make the plant look more diseased than pest ridden.

Aside from physically witnessing a pest in action, how do you know which are good and which are bad?

Unfortunately, chemical pesticides don't distinguish the beneficial insects from the destructive ones. And although it is tempting to reach for the bottle, there is much you can do control the bad pests long term by encouraging the good bugs through the flowers and plants you choose. Beneficial Insects 101 has some good advice for attracting and even buying good bugs for your garden.

I haven't picked it up yet, but I've also heard good things about Jessica Walliser's "Good Bug, Bad Bug," a gardener's complete guide to garden pests and how to manage them organically.

Great Finds: Vintage Garden Decor

The best finds are always the ones you weren't even looking for.
With a quick weekend stop to your local antique boutique, neighbor's garage sale, or if you fancy, a dumpster dive, you can find a variety vintage items that are both practical and inventive in the garden.

I'm not talking about gazing balls and garden gnomes. Think rustic, yet elegant pieces that can be repurposed to make creative containers, plant stands, window boxes, trellises, garden markers and more. Be on the lookout for items such as old bedframes, ladders, watering cans and pitchers, and my personal favorite, simple aluminum buckets.

Now, I haven't quite gotten into herb and vegetable gardening (yet), but stumbling upon these vintage garden markers from Anthropologie makes me want to start.

At the very least, I'm now intrigued at the idea of treasure hunting for antique silverware and making my own garden markers.

Silverware photo credit: Anthropologie.com.

Master Gardener Tour Wrap Up

I'm a little behind, but didn't want to forget about my stint 2 Saturdays ago, touring the yards of Master Gardeners, thanks to the Michigan State University/Kent County Extension.

This year's tour featured about 7 different homes, mostly on the north side, near Rockford, Belmont and Cedar Springs--large homes with even larger yards, and an abundance of space to prep, grow and maintain. My two favorites both featured garden sheds and benches, providing perfect little places for potting, storage, organization and reprieve from the sun.

I find that the pictures I take each year, really don't do the gardens much justice. Some are so vast and filled to the brim with blooming perennials and annuals, it's definitely best to experience the juxtaposition of plants for yourself. I saw several brilliant combinations that I would have never thought to place together.

I'd like to say that I learned a lot, but the tour was really just about witnessing what others have built over 5, 10, 15+ years. If anything, it validated that garden maintenance is a constant job. If you want your gardens
to continue to look fresh, unspoiled and tidy, your work is never really done. This includes weeding, pest control and dividing perennials. It was also refreshing to know that even masters continue to face the same issues as us amateurs.