I know a few of you might find it incredibly hard to believe, but I actually spend a considerable amount of time researching my columns rather than just making s#%t up. In truth, it is probably a combination of both. We live in the information age where knowledge is all around us, literally at our finger tips. The challenge of course is in discerning what and who to believe. I recently discovered a wonderful website called www.gardenrant.com where authors come together to literally rant (in a both informative and entertaining way, right up my alley so to speak) about all things horticultural. One of the authors, Scott Beuerlein (who must surely be my doppelganger) put forth a list of his thoughts for improving our gardening creds now and into the future. After much consideration, here are my thoughts for you to ponder…
Soil prep is and has always been the foundation of a successful garden. Never skimp on this step. Sometimes we can simply import good topsoil, but most of the time we have to build it from scratch, which means annual applications of organic matter and organic fertilizers. It never stops. Put it into your annual gardening budget and consider it an investment that will give you many happy returns.
Pay attention to drainage. This goes along with good soil prep. Drainage is the “infrastructure” of a good garden. Either find ways to get rid of the excess water or take advantage of it by channeling it into a rain garden or bog feature planted with moisture loving vegetation.
Don’t be afraid to edit. Sometimes Mother Nature does this for us and sometimes we just need to bite the bullet and remove underperforming plants, or at the minimum relocate them. Don’t be a wuss and for heaven’s sake, don’t feel guilty.
Pay attention. Walk through your garden daily, if possible, and observe what is going on. Plants will tell you if they are struggling long before they have reached the point of no return. Learn to recognize the signs of stress and address them before it is too late.
Visit other gardens — this is a great way to get inspiration. Remember, plagiarism is the highest form of flattery. The Northwest is replete with incredible public and private gardens where you can observe some of the best horticultural designs and botanical collections anywhere. Many of our local garden clubs also have summer garden tours that provide great opportunities to observe what our “neighbors” are up to and what will actually grow in our region.
Never stop learning. There is no shortage of gardening websites where we can find the latest techniques and newest introductions. Books, as well, can serve as a more tangible reference source and we are blessed with an abundance of Northwest authors that will give us “regionally appropriate” knowledge. For beginners, I still prefer the Sunset Western Garden Book. For more advanced, I enjoy reading Horticulture Magazine, while my wife likes The English Garden magazine.
Have fun! Gardening does not have to be “work.” The more successful we become the more enjoyable it will be. Gardens fill us with food for the body as well as the soul. And they are never done — there is always room for one more plant or a new water feature or rock garden or….well, you get the idea. Plan on making 2023 your best ever garden ever!
Steve Smith represents Sunnyside Nursery in Marysville and can be reached at sunnysidenursery@msn.com
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