Let's build a better garden for ourselves instead of making decisions. Prevent problems before they happen, maximize the effectiveness of our efforts, and use our outdoor spaces to feel better.
Choose one from each theme to begin a more thoughtful gardening experience this year.
resistance
1. Conduct a soil test every three years. This will help you determine what your breed needs or doesn't need. Excess nutrients from fertilizers enter our water bodies and degrade water quality. Available for free at oiltesting.tamu.edu.
2. Plant a new herb, vegetable, citrus or fruit and dedicate your time to being in the garden. Pay attention to the types that work best for you, pay attention to pests, and pay attention to the necessary growing conditions.
3. Learn to distinguish pests from beneficial insects. Beneficial insects provide free pest control. If you see them in the garden, put them to work.
4. Avoid wastage by harvesting fruits and vegetables on time. If you don't think you'll use the product, share it with friends, family, neighbors, or even your local food bank.
5. Take regular measures to prevent or reduce weeds. Check and expand regularly. Catch them before they flower and set seed. Use a rake to remove deep-rooted weeds. Use mulch.
6. Consider Euphorbia. Tropical euphorbia looks great for months, but contains Ophiocystis electrosyrrha (OE for short), a protozoan parasite that kills monarch butterflies. See the local broom that dies every year. When the leaves die, so does the parasite.
7. Start small or rethink. Gardening and landscaping takes time, energy and resources. Reduce pragmatic services.
skills
8. Extends the next plant harvest for a longer time. Sow seeds or seedlings in small groups within 7-21 days, do not harvest at the same time. Plants become easier to use, share or store.
9. Improve the soil over time by adding 1 inch of compost annually or in the spring/fall. It can be applied to the soil or added as a top dressing. Compost helps sandy soils retain moisture and nutrients, while clay soils drain.
10. Integration of the local population into the existing landscape. Native plants support local wildlife. While it doesn't always require minimal maintenance, many do. The Native Plant Society can help: npsot.org
11. Simplify landscape boundaries with wide slopes to facilitate access for lawnmowers. The design will save time and energy by reducing the need for weeding.
12. Growing vertically in a small space. This not only saves space, but also adds personality and intimacy. It also benefits your back while harvesting.
13. Keep equipment in good condition and use the right tool for the right job. Hand shears cut branches up to 1" diameter, shears 1-3" diameter and pruning saw for branches up to 10" diameter. Use with care.
14. Grazing brings trouble and little reward for wildlife. Small steps can be taken to reduce this: widen existing beds, create new ones or consider replacing them with turf grass.
15. Use water measures. Drip hoses, drip irrigation and micro spray irrigation bring water closer to the roots. Rain barrels collect rainwater for later use. Mulch reduces surface evaporation and keeps the soil cool.
welfare
16. More people are gardening for mental health. OK! Pay attention to how you feel when you are away from your home or office. We have so much to see in this life...let the bonds focus on you now.
17. Add playfulness with a custom tie. Planning and creating a garden and vegetable garden is fun, but the real beauty comes to life over a cup of tea or a meal when we reap the fruits of our labor.
18. It is good to discover; Grow Something New All-American selections are strains that have proven their worth in North America. Texas Superstars are the best players in Texas. Or create your own "patterns" from kindergarten.
19. Attract your favorite wildlife with plants and habitats. Plant caterpillars and mature host plants to attract butterflies. Maintain shrubs and trees as habitat, and include water sources and forage plants to attract birds.
20. Take an in-person or online course. Educational organizations such as Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, local organizations, or local gardens have many options. The best thing about gardeners is that they are usually willing to share their knowledge.
21. Plant a tree that you miss. It is a sweet memory that keeps a part of that person alive. Moon flower for mom. A rose for my father "Sunset".
22. Gardening is a great challenge. We learn more from failure than success, so don't be afraid to make mistakes. These usually lead to the best stories.
23. Volunteer at a garden. Not only does it bring camaraderie, but it's also a great way to learn from others. We are all in the same boat.
