Featured Roseville Blog: Declutter MY Garden? What Are You Talking About?

Standing on the deck, looking out at the garden I wonder what happened to that plant I got from a friend last summer.  It was growing well last fall. 

Is it just not up yet, did it get dug up by mistake or cut down when the garden was cleaned?  It was right there between, hum ... now, did I move it ... and what is that coming up there among the lilies?

A lot has been written about "decluttering", down sizing, cleaning out one's home. For some of us, it is about time to take action for we are wasting our energy and our precious time moving things from one place to another or looking for something we just know we have - somewhere.

Our homes aren't the only things that need "decluttering". Many of our landscapes, our gardens need our judicious consideration.  The landscaper put in new plants so they would look as if they belonged.  Now, a few years later those plants have become overgrown, unbecoming and they don't belong anymore.

There was a time many of us had to have one of everything.  Any plant given to us was given a place here or there, wherever there was a bit of space.  One item grew much bigger than expected, another got moved.  Did we correct our list of plants?  Did we even have a list of plants in our yard?

Many of us have moved on. Now we basically have a few particular types of plants along with our annuals - but we still have lots of miscellaneous items.  Some don't do very well.  We don't give them much attention.  We look at them, don't like what we see ... wrong size, wrong color, we know we should, could do a better job of caring for them.  (This is just like that shirt you haven't worn in five years and you wouldn't wear it even if it did fit.) 

 Dig up those plants and get rid of them!

That's right.  Dig them up and get rid of them! 

"Declutter" your garden.  Getting rid of plants isn't as difficult as you might think.  You don't have to dump them in the trash.  Most plant material can easily be composted. 

If that isn't for you, offer an item to a friend or a gaden club that may be having a plant sale soon. 

Or, put your plant(s) in an old pot, a box or damp newspaper, put them curbside with a simple sign that says FREE.  If you know what the plant is, so much the better.  You may be surprised how quickly those discards find a new home.

They are gone. Your garden now has some space.  You don't feel guilty for not caring for everything.  You have more time to care for what you really want well tended and you have time to enjoy your yard and gardens. 

Now, that's good gardening.