Gardening Resolutions

The holidays are over and we've got awhile before Spring, but here are some of my 2012 Resolutions for this year's garden.

1. Compost. It’s free and makes plants happy.

2. Weed early and often. It’s easier to weed 15 minutes a day than 15 hours one weekend. Real life will probably get in the way, but we'll keep this one here...it’s good to have goals.

3. Don’t buy just one of any plant...plan and make sure there’s room for at least 3-5 of the same plant or at least a grouping of the same color. Single plants mingled in can add contrast, but it's the groupings that add the "wow". This one will be hard...it's hard to resist a fun, new plant when you're at a garden center.

4. Keep a garden journal. Last year, I bought a spiral bound weekly planner when calendars went on sale for 50% off. Jot down a few notes about a flower that's in bloom, when seeds or flowers are planted, weather (rain) patterns, etc. It takes 5 minutes and you'll have a tool to track the "history" of your garden. A planner also has space for writing short notes about websites or gardens to visit and interesting books to read or recommend to friends.

5. Take more pictures in the garden....in the morning, at night, from different angles outside, from windows inside the house. Pictures help when you're trying to remember where you want to make changes and to show you what combinations work, where there might be an "empty" space, where there might need to be a contrasting color or texture.

6. Sit back and enjoy the view.

Kathy Smith

Garden Club of Long Valley, Publicity

http://thegardencluboflongvalley.shutterfly.com/