1 – Dream Your Garden
What does you dream garden look like? What does it feel like? Fail to plan and you plan to fail. Most of us don’t get to the garden of our dreams through a series of haphazard actions: buying a plant when our fancy strikes; removing an annoying shrub; adding a fountain or statue. Even if you just want to convert a small corner of your garden a thought-through plan will give you a better result.
Before you get out into the garden and do something you want to do you need to dream your dream. What is it that you want from your garden? What kind of happiness are you seeking there?
3 methods for dreaming
Here are some ways to discover your dream. Remember to include the important people who share your space too either during, or after, doing this.
1. Grab a pencil and paper or your journal. Spend 5 minutes writing down words which spring to mind when you think of a garden. You might think of colors, shapes, feelings, textures, smells, tastes, or memories. You might think of experiences you want to have in your garden, with or without your kids or partner, or a window view you’d love, or foods you want to have in your kitchen which come from your garden.
2. Walk your garden and neighborhood. Look out for a spot in your garden which you want to change. What kind of effect do you want to have there? Is there something you want gone? As you walk your neighborhood, do you see something you admire? There may not be things growing yet, if it’s winter, but your attention might be grabbed by shapes, paths etc.
3. Browse gardening books and catalogs and photos. Bookmark any pages in a book which show something which grabs your attention. In catalogs, turn down page corners where there is something you like. Go online and search for images of garden-related words. Try words like vegetable garden and natural garden.
3 ways to get dreaming help
It might take more than the ideas here to get you dreaming your dream. Here are 3 ways to get more help.
o How to Create a Dreamboard at eHow.com. You’ll find a step by step guide to creating a paper/card based dreamboard.
o O Dream Board from Oprah.com. Sign up at Oprah’s site and you can download dream board software for free.
o Work with a gardening friend. Sometimes you need someone to help you get started and stay on track. There is no substitute for a real, live person who cares about what you are doing. Buddy up with another dreaming gardener, or get yourself a mentor (more on mentors in step 4).
Step 1 actions
Choose one of the 3 methods of dreaming your dream and do it for 15 minutes.
Decide whether you need extra help. If you do, choose one of the ways to get more help and act on it.
I hope this step prompts some great dreams for your garden.
2 – Make a List
By now you should have completed Step 1, if not set aside 15 minutes and do one of the dreaming exercises.
You have some ideas of what you want from your garden, but you’re not yet ready to rush outside and get digging and planting. First you need to firm up your ideas and make them practical. So, you’re going to write yourself a list.
You’ll need your list before you get to Step 3 (in step 3 you are going to research and find the things you need).
3 ways to work on your list
Here are three ways to get from your dream to your list.
- Write a list of questions. Take whatever you produced in Step 1 and spend 5 minutes writing yourself a list of questions to answer. My list looks like this:
- What kind of native edible berry bushes could I grow?
- Where will I get sweet potato plants? What growing conditions do they need?
- Where should I place a wood pile so that it’s not washed away when it rains (a challenge in my back yard).
- How many containers do I want for my deck? Where am I going to buy them? What do I want to grow in them?
Your list might look totally different. It’s your list, to help you garden – give it some love, however it looks! Any question which requires research can sit happily on your list until the next step (Step 3 is about researching and finding answers to your questions).
2. Narrowing Down what you want. You might notice that I have a lot of variety in my questions. You’ll see that I want to grow native edible berries, container plants, and sweet potatoes just for a start. This is not even my full list. With dreams that are either vague or ambitious you’re setting yourself up to fail. If your list is long or encompasses many aspects or areas of your garden you need a way to narrow it down. Pick either the project which resonates most with you, or the one you already think you’ll be successful with. Follow suggestions 1 or 3 now.
3. Write a list of things you need. Maybe you’re already sure what you want to grow and where and you just need to find the things you need. If so, write a list of things you need – this is meant to be a really practical list with items like containers, compost, trowel, fork, mulch, lettuce seeds. If you can’t yet write a practical list like this see write yourself a list of questions instead.
Help With Your List
If you are stuck on writing your list here are some things that might help.
- Your list does not have to be perfect. You can correct it, change it, or even throw it away and start over, but first you have to start it. Have a go.
- If you are not coming up with even a list of questions, go back and spend more time thinking about what you want from your garden.
- · Speak with someone else and see if this gets you past being stuck. If you have a question at this point you are welcome to contact me for help. Simply use the contact form here http://lovingnaturesgarden.com/contact
Step 2 actions
Use the tips above to help you write a list – don’t let yourself get stuck (this should only take 5-10 minutes).
Decide whether you need extra help. If you do, choose one of the ways to get more help and act on it.
I hope this step helps you to write your list.
3 – Find the things you need
By now you should have had time to do Steps 1 and 2, if not, don’t worry, just go back and do them – set aside about 15 minutes for each step and go for it!
From Step 2 you have either a list of questions to research and answer, or you have a list of items you already know that you need in order to make your dream real.
Step 3 is all about resources to help you find the things you need. Since I don’t know what your dream is and what is on your list, I will provide resources in several categories. Hopefully there should be something of use here. If not, please let me know and I’ll find you some information related to what you need.
Native Plants and Wildlife Gardening
Many concerned gardeners, if you’re reading this it includes you, are looking to add native plants to their front and back yards. There are many resources available to help you. Here are a few:
1. Regional Butterfly Guides – the North American Butterfly Association has produced a number of regional guides detailing the best native plants to add to your garden to attract and support butterflies. You can download these for free.
2. Native Plant Societies are great resources for local information. Do a Google search with your state name and the words native plant society and you should turn up something of interest. Wild Ones chapters are another good resource.
3. Carole Brown, otherwise known as The Ecosystem Gardener has a list of links to native plant nurseries which will help you to find a nursery near you.
4. If you’re looking to replace something in your garden with a native alternative the book Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants is a recommended resource. You can pick up a used copy for a few dollars from Amazon.com (affiliate links support my work) or ask for it at your local library.
5. For a really thorough look at using native plants in your landscape I highly recommend books by Sally Wasowski. Her books are thorough as well as inspirational, with their showcasing of regional native home-owner landscapes.
6. Or if you have a particular plant in mind and need to know whether it is native to your area I recommend the USDA Plants Database. You can search using common or scientific name, look at maps of native range for any flower, plant, shrub or tree, and find out it’s status (noxious, threatened, endangered).
Regional gardening information
If you want to plant any non-native plants, including fruits and vegetables, you will need some local/regional information to help you.
1. Here’s the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. You’ll need that if you’re choosing and ordering any plants or seeds online.
2. Search Google for your local county extension office – simply search with your county and state and extension office eg Johnson Kansas Extension Office. This will give you access to local information on growing as well as access to educational presentations and events.
3. Mother Earth News has a couple of handy resources. Find garden seed resources by state in her Best Garden Seed Companies list. Or search online with 500 different seed suppliers to find a specific seed variety.
4. You can find books on regional vegetable growing at Amazon.com or visit your local library or bookstore. To order online from your local bookstore use Indiebound. Note: if you buy a book through my link I’ll get to buy a few extra seeds or a plant for my garden.
How to Grow Flowers, Vegetables and Herbs
For container growing you’ll want at least 5 gallon containers. Plastic is better than pottery or earthenware, which are prone to drying out. For self-watering container stuff and growing in small spaces Mike Lieberman has a lot to say. I love that he uses recycled materials.
Aviad Giat who runs Altglobe.com has been growing vegetables in his roof garden in raised beds made from Garden Collars. These are the least expensive way I’ve come across to set up ready-made raised beds. Just be aware that they are un-treated spruce and must be protected if they are to last.
For more resources on vegetable growing check my Vegetable Patch article.
Another couple of great books are The Edible Flower Garden by Rosalind Creasy and The Edible Garden. The first of those two links takes you to a review at my blog and the second straight to Amazon.com.
Organic and sustainable gardening
If you’re looking to make your gardening practices more organic, reduce your lawn area, or better manage water in your landscape there are some resources I recommend. These are big topics and I’m recommending books because I’ve yet to find really great websites which support my views.
1. The Organic Lawn Care Manual is very thorough without being bamboozling. I’ve not yet written a review, but I can tell you that this book answered every question I’ve had on greening my lawn care.
2. The Green Gardener’s Guide is great if you’re not sure what projects you might tackle. That link takes you to my review.
3. Permaculture is another way of gardening you might look at. I’ve called it a Gentle Way of Gardening – that link takes you to an introduction and video at my blog. For a book with small, manageable, and inexpensive permaculture projects I recommend Getting Started in Permaculture, which I’ve not written about, but it’s been on my wishlist since I borrowed it from the library.
Rain Garden Resources
If a rain garden is in your dream, here are some helpful links:
- A great link with a down-loadable guide which includes rain garden plans and a lot more: rain gardens how-to manual for homeowners. If you’re ready to get started this guide should answer pretty much all of your questions.
- The Native Rain Gardens site has a nice introduction to rain gardening – the what, why and how. The author had her kids help with building the garden, which makes her a supercool mom in my view!
- Did you know that Kansas City, Missouri is actually leading the nation in promoting and implementing rain gardens? Check out their 10, 000 rain gardens initiative for helpful information.
- Just in case you live in my area (near Kansas City) you need to check out The Prairie and Wetland Center. They have great information at their site and they sell all the plants you’d need for a rain garden through their store, which is called Critsite. My absolute favorite way to dream up native plantings for my garden is with their astoundingly comprehensive plant search system.
- For elsewhere in the country check your local university, county extension office, or botanic garden for rain garden information relevant to your area.
Overcoming overwhelm
If this is all too overwhelming here are some things that might help.
- You don’t have to read every site or do everything you’ve thought of. Pick one or two things to focus on first.
- Decide how much time it is realistic for you to devote to garden planning and gardening. It might be 15 minutes per day, or 10 minutes a couple of times a week. Be realistic and try to stick with your plan. Ask your family to help you focus without disturbance.
- If you’re a person of action rather than someone who loves to research, simply plan a time to visit a local native plant nursery or garden center. Do your research there – ask questions of real, live people if it helps.
- Use the resources above to help you find the things you need. Which resources are going to work for you? Don’t try them all! Pick a couple and give them a try before moving on.
- Let me know if there is information I’ve not provided or if you have a really great resource to recommend.
Step 3 actions
I hope this step helps you to find the information and gardening stuff you need.
4 – All about mentors
Whether or not you have completed the previous steps, you are ready to think about finding a mentor and to learn what a mentor can do for you as a gardener.
Whichever level of skill you are at as a gardener you know that there are people out there who know more than you do. When you find a mentor you not only get to tap into the gardening knowledge of someone else, but you also gain a meaningful relationship, a friendship even, something that can go beyond gardening.
I hope that by reading Loving Nature’s Garden you feel a sense of friendship and that I am a mentor to you at some level. However, who can have too many friends, too many teachers? Let’s get started thinking about what a mentor can do for you.
Why you need a mentor
Gardening is combination art and science. While it is relatively easy to get started you’re never going to be done with learning. Most arts are best learned in a master and apprentice type of relationship.
The best mentors teach not only their art, but life skills, wisdom, and patience. There is no substitute for having people in your life who believe in you. You won’t necessarily find that kind of mentor for your gardening – don’t expect the perfect relationship to fall into your lap. However there are many reasons to have a mentor, or two.
1. A mentor has been there and done that. They’ve made mistakes, tried again, and learned. They can help you to learn the things you want to know because they have experience.
2. A local mentor has knowledge you won’t find in a book. Books are written to appeal to as wide an audience as possible so that the publisher can make a profit. Even a regional gardening book is missing information that a mentor can have about your area and what does and doesn’t work there.
3. A mentor is someone to share your joys and frustrations with. Even when you write about your garden in your blog or journal it’s not the same as sharing with someone who wants to listen and visit with you face to face.
4. There is no substitute for having a pair of eyes to look at your garden and see it live in 3-D and to show you things in their garden. You can’t learn everything from books or online.
How to find a mentor
To find a gardening mentor you need to go where gardeners hang out. Here are some possibilities:
1. Locally owned gardening centers and plant nurseries.
2. Botanic gardens and arboretums. My local arboretum has a host of volunteers who maintain the grounds. The last time I visited I passed four or five ladies who were busy in the flower beds and who obviously loved to garden.
3. Farmers markets and CSA schemes are places to “bend the ear” of someone who is experienced in growing the kinds of fruits and vegetables you might love to succeed with.
4. Gardening clubs and native plant societies are great resources for finding other like-minded people. If you are interested in having birds, butterflies, or other critters in your garden you may also visit with local Audubon chapters, conservation groups etc.
5. Most local state extension offices have master gardener programs and run garden related educational classes. Also check community education programs and garden and nature centers for classes. You just might find a teacher who would make a fabulous mentor for you.
Step 4 actions
- Spend ten minutes thinking about what a mentor could do for you.
- Be open to finding a mentor. Once you’ve decided this is for you, opportunities will come. Just be open.
- Make a date to visit somewhere gardeners hang out.
I hope this step helps you to find a mentor. It would be lovely to read about your mentor experiences. Do write to me and let me know.
5 – Put it all together
Well by now, if you’ve been following along with the steps and taking the actions, you’re getting your fingers in the dirt, or you’re ready to. Great, I’m excited for you!
I want to mention here Debi, one of the students in Step by Step Gardening, and the article she wrote about Gardening with Kids: Getting Started. I’m excited that the steps are doing just what I intended for Debi. It’s lovely to read about.
Gardening setbacks
One reason you might have been reluctant to try something new in the garden is that you’re worried about failing. Indeed more than one reader has told me that they were almost afraid to try gardening. I’ve had successes in the garden, but I’ve also had failures; plenty of them.
Rather than list all my gardening failures here, let’s think about how we learn from our mistakes. Hint: this means that you’re allowed to make mistakes. I also have some steps you can take to be proactive and prevent problems, as well as some suggestions to tackle common problems as they arise.
Proactive Gardening
Here are some steps which help me in the garden, some proactive things I do which prevent many problems:
1. Plant things at the right time. Check seed packets for instructions and ask at garden nurseries about how to plant when you buy something new. Planting times aren’t absolutely exact though – a week or two is not a long time in the garden.
2. Plant things in the right place. Plan to plant according to light and moisture needs of the plants. Also, allow for mature size on perennials, including flowers, shrubs, and trees. Look up and check for overhead lines too if you’re planning to plant trees. Avoid plants that are invasive or which spread to form thickets.
3. Use mulches. Whether you are using containers, raised beds, or planting direct into the ground, mulches keep in moisture, reduce stress on plants, and cut down on watering and weeding needs.
4. Water in the morning. Morning watering is best for plants. I think it’s the most beautiful time to be outside anyway.
5. Check on your plants just because you love them. Regularly looking at your plants allows you to see problems early, when they are easier to handle.
6. Plan for failure. When I plant a new kind of seed for the first time I’m never quite sure how it will do. So, I intermix two kinds of seeds and wait to see what happens. Several years of planting spinach has never yielded any plants for me, but I plant them with lettuce, which is successful, so I don’t mind. I just plan to thin out the lettuce and eat it if both grow.
Gardening problems – what to do
Many problems can be prevented once you have some experience. If you’re a beginner though you’re not going to know which problems are likely in your area – you’re more likely to find out the hard way. This is one thing a mentor can be a big help with. Even with experience, some plants may just not be worth it. You’ll figure it out. Here are some tips and solutions:
- Some bug pests can be removed by hand. Others can be handled with simple sprays which include non-toxic ingredients like soap. And yet more bugs have biological controls, beneficial insects which prey on them. Gardening catalogs often sell these and Garden’s Alive has a number of useful pest control items.
- Squirrels and rabbits can be a nuisance in the vegetable patch. There’s a commercial spray which contains garlic and pepper and I’ve found it works well. Last year I sprayed it on the wood around my raised beds and it kept the critters out. There are non-toxic solutions to keep deer off too.
- A recommended reference book such as The Vegetable Gardener’s Bible would be good to have on-hand to help with questions and problems. I’ve not reviewed this book yet, but from what I’ve read it is highly regarded (I keep coming across it).
- I’ve mentioned state extension services before as great resources. They don’t always have organic gardening principles in mind (in my experience) but they do have a wealth of local knowledge and will often help with identifying pests and diseases.
At the end of the day, your family is not going to starve if you make a few mistakes and have a few problems in the garden. Keep it in perspective.
Step 5 actions
- Think about any fears you have, or problems you’re worried about. Voicing your problems may remove some of their power. Just don’t let potential problems lock you into procrastinating. If they’re preventable, take steps now… If not, let go!
- Start a garden journal, or figure out a place to take brief notes. It will be very useful later to look back and learn from what you did, when you planted, which varieties you used etc.
- Think ahead about your needs. Will you need someone to water for you when you go out of town? Start making that connection now.
Decide right now to be kind to yourself in your gardening adventures, accept that not everything will work out. It’s OK, really and truly. You’ll be a better, and happier, person by learning this, even if it takes a lifetime – the garden is the perfect place to grow.
Good luck my gardening friend. Let me know how it goes. Contact me with your questions and comments.
Regards, Alison Kerr
