GARDENING INDEPENDENCE

 

 

Did you ever think about declaring your independence from the gardening grind and becoming a lazy gardener?  I have!  And it never fails: the spring and summer fertilizers are working, and so are the weed preventives.  But so, too, is Mother Nature.  Rain, rain, rain --and more weeds are growing.

What can you do?

Weeding is the answer, but that can be exhausting. You can spend hours pulling weeds or you could make it easier on yourself and be kind to the earth by mulching your garden or flower beds.  Granted, you will need to weed the area before you mulch, and the task will be less difficult if you pull the weeds when they are small.  But adding a thick layer of newspapers (no colored pages) between rows, then adding several inches of straw or bark on top will do a good job of keeping the weeds under control.

Mulching also will help the soil retain moisture, when it gets hot and dry.  This will reduce the amount of water you will need to apply.  Wet the soil thoroughly before laying down mulch.

Mulch also has many other virtues.  It prevents heavy rains from compacting the soil or eroding it.  Mulch helps maintain an even soil temperature and encourages earthworms.  It protects crops like tomatoes, cucumbers, and squash from rot as these plants don’t have direct contact with the soil.  And, as it decomposes, it turns into compost, improving the fertility of the soil.

When Mother Nature stops watering your plants, it is up to you. To improve growth and quality, annuals and perennials require about an inch of water a week.  That means gardens should be soaked just once a week rather than every day or two.  Soil should be soaked to a depth of 6 to 12 inches, and not again until the top few inches begin to dry out.  Find a bare spot and dig a hole to check dampness depth.  When watering, use a soaker line, bubbler, sprinkler head or even a watering can to diffuse water and avoid erosion.

July is a perfect time not only to declare your independence, but also enjoy it and relax in the garden.  Plants are like people, they respond to tender loving care.  HAPPY GARDENING!

TOM’S TIMELY TIPS FOR JULY

• Be alert to slug and snail damage.  These creatures will be hiding during the heat of the day, but will come out of hiding in the cool morning and evening hours or after a rain.  Seek and destroy ALL slugs and their eggs!

• Keep the weeds pulled, before they have a chance to flower and go to seed again.  Otherwise, you will be fighting newly germinated weed seed for the next several years.

• Change the water in your birdbath regularly, and keep it filled.  Standing water may become a breeding ground for mosquito larvae.

• Continue to watch for insect or disease damage throughout the garden, and take the necessary steps to control the problem.