I don’t know what it is about the months of July and August, but it seems like every year about this time I fall in love with my garden all over again. For me, the spring season is more of a puppy love or infatuation, but the summer months are when true love really blossoms, both literally and figuratively. It’s when my garden loves me back with all of its beauty and splendor.
Like any relationship, you get out of it what you put into it. It takes work and communication to succeed, and it’s not always easy to know what the other person — or, in this case, the plant — needs, but paying attention and listening go a long way toward a beautiful “horticultural marriage.”
Here are a few care and feeding tips to make our garden relationships flourish throughout the summer.
Plants need friends, too.
It can get lonely out there in the hot, dry dirt, and having some good company will always go a long way to lifting spirits. Keep planting and introducing new neighbors to your garden. It will make your daisies smile and your lilies blush.
Plants need to eat, too.
Along with good company, there is nothing like a good meal and some libation to give us that warm and fuzzy feeling. The same goes for plants.
Annuals especially need constant food and, of course, all plants need a consistent supply of water. Garden centers can show us what the best foods are and how to apply water most efficiently.
A well-nourished plant will exude love unconditionally.
Plants need to be disciplined, too.
Sometimes we can get a little too rowdy or out of control and need to be brought back in line, in a loving way of course. Plants are no different.
Exercise some discipline by trimming up the hedges, thinning out the fruit trees, removing the old blossoms from the rhodies and cutting back any bloomed-out perennials from spring — some perennials, like delphiniums, will actually re-bloom in September if cut back now.
Staking is also critical as all it takes is one wet and windy day to knock everything down. Just like people, plants can also use a little extra support from time to time.
Plants can get sick, too.
Working on our listening skills can go a long way to improving our relationships. You might be surprised by what our plants can tell us.
Chewed holes, curled leaves, white powdery stuff, or even just off-color and dull foliage are all signs of troubles that need our attention. Seek out professional guidance from the local garden center and don’t be neglectful. It’s the loving thing to do for our plants.
Plants need to be loved, too.
If we stay on top of these chores, our plants will love us for it and we should be able to enjoy our gardens for the next two months with minimal effort. Love has always been a two-way street. The more we love our gardens, the more they will love us back.
This time of year, my garden is in its height of glory and is returning my love for it a thousand times over. Because I love it, it is loving me back, and that is the foundation of any healthy relationship. It’s the same with anything in life, isn’t it?
So, go forth and make this the summer of love for your garden. Matrimonial bliss is there for the taking.
Free classes
The next free classes at Sunnyside Nursery in Marysville will be “Hydrangealicious” at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 15, and “Successful Shade Gardens” at 10 a.m. Sunday, July 16. For more information, go to www.sunnysidenursery.net/classes.
Steve Smith represents Sunnyside Nursery in Marysville. He can be reached at sunnysidenursery@msn.com.
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