Maid To Garden

In The Garden Of Good Living - Janaury 2010 - Taking Stock For A New Year Of Gardening
by Pat Hendrickson

Miss Pat became a first time grandmother this past month so she is taking some time off to enjoy the new young'un. She'll be back next month. And since there is not too much to do outside right now, this time seems like a good time to research what went wrong in last year’s garden.

Anyone who has a garden or is trying to learn to garden knows which of their plants did not make it last season. Something that looked lush and lovely in the catalog or garden center simply did not survive in our little patch of earth. The trick is to figure out where we went wrong.

1. Where did your plant come from?
Some gardeners avoid big box stores which bring in plants from all over. Specimens from larger growers can come with almost no root stock. Whatever their method is, it looks good in the store, but it is sometimes difficult to keep these plants alive. So what's a gardener to do? Believe it or not many chain stores are trying to provide locally grown annuals and perennials. As with anything else check the labels.

At least once a year search out a local nursery and buy direct from them. They can tell you more than what those little plastic stakes say about the care and feeding of their merchandise. And they are more likely to have native plants which will do better in your garden anyway. And don't forget that many Eastern Shore environmental groups have native plant sales in early May.

2. What are some questions I should ask when seeking help for my plant's problem?

Is this plant simply not meant to grow in my area?

Is the soil in my garden right for this plant, and how can I improve it?

How much watering does this plant usually need?

Would this plant do better in a pot or in the ground?

How much sun does this plant need?

Does this plant need to be fertilized?

What diseases and pests is this plant prone to - and how can I address them?

3. What resources are available to solve my plants' problems?
At the links below you can find information about disease and special care for garden plants. If that does not help, you can always get help from local growers, master gardeners, or friends. Before going to the nursery, logging onto an online forum, or calling a radio show, it helps to have the following information:

      a. Name of the plant

      b. Location of your garden (and its hardiness zone)

      c. Amount of sun and wind your plant got

      d. Description of the soil conditions

      e. Description of the plant's symptoms or problems

Educational Links