Got Dirt?
The most important thing you can do for your plants
Use Good Soil
It’s all your plants have to eat. Your plants are not in the ground so their roots can’t go out and get what they need. They can only depend on what you give them. Right? So do not forget about that.
Do NOT use garden soil. It’s too heavy. Sorry, you can’t go out and get a shovel full of dirt. Also, don’t go over to the Dollar Store because they’re having a big sale; their soil may not best. It’s a great place for greeting cards and wrapping paper
Always, always use really high-quality good soil.
People ask me what I use. Well, it’s really a matter of convenience for me. I may use Farfard, Miracle-Gro, or some others. For me, it’s whatever I’m going by that they have. I know we’re all busy, so sometimes you can even buy soil that already has the fertilizer included in the mix. This keeps it easy on yourself. These prepared soils have a slow released fertilizer.
Garden Design Inspiration
Sometimes an inspiration “bouquet” helps clients see my vision for their garden design.
We can play with the different plant combinations until we like the result.
A Thankful Gardener
I recently spent some vacation time with the kids in Turks and Caicos. What a beautiful spot. Especially for a gardener. I drooled over the amazing variety of tropical plants.
“Hedges” of lantana, colorful croton as tall as I am, masses of cuphea that mocked me with their exuberance. Ditto the setcreasea, which was like a groundcover on steroids.
My kids grew tired of my constant stopping the car to take “just one more picture.” I had to remind myself that the Bible says “Thou shalt not covet” so I tried really hard not to. But isn’t it human nature to want what we can’t have?
Across our country, there are gorgeous botanical gardens that truly are sights for sore eyes, boasting acres upon acres of luscious greenery, beautiful colors, unique plant-life, exotic butterflies, and even some fun activities for the kids. Read “55 Stunning Botanical Gardens You Really Need to See Before You Die”
What Can We Grow Here in New England?
While it’s true those of us in the colder zones will never be able to grow a hedge of bougainvillea, we can grow a hedge of beautiful ‘Nikko Blue’ hydrangea, which would melt in the heat of Turks and Caicos.
We may not have all the different types of palm trees but here in New England, we have the amazing fall foliage, which draws leaf-peepers from all over the country. The key is to be thankful wherever you garden. If you have clay soil, embrace it and plant daylilies, Japanese iris, viburnums or black-eyed Susans. If you have wet, soggy soil be grateful you have beautiful options like Black Snakeroot, Cardinal Flower, or Joe-Pye Weed. For more plant suggestions based on different conditions check out Plant Finder.
For those of you experiencing water bans why not try xeriscaping, which is design that uses various methods for minimizing the need for water use. Water Use It Wisely is a great site to get you started.
And if you don’t have any soil to garden in be thankful. You get to use containers!
Some of my favorite designs have involved grouping of containers on balconies and roof decks. Shrubs, small trees, perennials, vegetables….any of these will do fine in containers.
For the greatest chance of success, just make sure your pots are big enough and you have consistent irrigation.
True, the beautiful rustle of the wind through the palm trees seems to whisper “vacation” but I think of the wind through the pine trees at the sea captain’s house in Maine that has been in our family for generations. It whispers “home”.
I guess the key is to be content and thankful wherever you garden. After all, if you are digging in the dirt and not six feet under it, it’s all good.
Garden Quote: Serenity and Joy
A garden must combine the poetic and the mysterious with a feeling of serenity and joy.
~Luis Barragan
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