or in simpler terms...my top 10 tips for a garden that any dog would be proud of!
Number One:
Have a plan.
Many home gardens and landscapes evolve helter skelter. Plants are purchased on a whim and installed in a piece meal fashion. Start with a blank slate on paper, put in some of the existing items you will keep, transplant some items and plan for the new purchases. Most perennials and annuals look better planted in groups of the same variety.
Number Two:
Think outside the box.
Break away from rectangular shaped lawns and straight beds.
Curvy lines are easier on the eye and easier to mow and edge.
Number 3:
Plan and Plant for all 4 seasons.
Most landscapes fall short in the fall and winter.
Look for evergreens and plants with berries, fall color and texture for seasonal interest, year round.
Number 4:
Improve your soil
Be generous when adding organic amendments. Spread 2-3 inches over the soil, then dig or till into the top 9-12 inches. Large compost piles are also fun to play on!
Number 5:
Failure to water, or Overdoing it.
Most folks here, tend to over water to the point of soggy!
Most established plantings really need very little water after the first year.
Lawns benefit from deeper watering at further intervals. Lawns watered frequently have shallower roots and are not as hardy.
Number 6:
Know your pests.
We love you Bambis and Bunnies, just not in our gardens!
If you have wildlife, research your plants and find deer resistant varieties.
We have found dogs to be the best control method. Scarecrows only scare me,Wyatt!!
Number 7:
Wyatt's Tomato Tip
When planting a tomato plant, we mix into the planting hole, 1 shovel full of steer manure, 1 handful of pelletized lime and 1 handful of bone meal. Works like a charm! Warning dogs love bone meal and will dig up the tomato plant to get to it, so put the tomato cage on right away or fence off the area!
Number 8:
Mom's Pruning Tip
Flowering plants that bloom in the spring on wood that grew the previous year (Rhododendrons), should be pruned only after the bloom has finished, if you prune too late in the season, you will eliminate the flower buds for next year. Flowering shrubs like Hydrangea, that bloom on the current season's wood can be pruned in late winter or early spring and not effect the current seasons bloom.
Number 9:
Container Plantings
The bigger the container the better! It's hard to keep plants alive in a small container, go big and don't be afraid to rotate things out of the pots and put in new plants when they start to look ratty.
Containers need daily water in the heat and frequent fertilization. We use a mild fish fertilizer or time released pellets.
Number 10:
Have Fun
Don't create so much work, that you don't have time for the dog!!
Now that's entertainment!!
Frankie, Thanks for letting me speak at the Blogville Picnic in the Bark!
Is there anymore watermelon and hotdogs?
Wyatt
