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Gardening tips help save time
The onslaught of gardening catalogs arriving at our homes is a sure sign of the impending spring and summer gardening seasons.
They have started to pile up at my house. Looking at the stack, I found myself daydreaming this weekend as the wintery blast came sweeping through Mississippi. How will our gardens look in a few short weeks? And how can we make this transformation a little easier?
Whoever said great looking gardens can be maintenance-free? A great looking garden is a lot of work, and with our busy lives, taking a few shortcuts can help us work more efficiently.
Learn how to play in the cold, the rain, and even the snow. Go to your favorite garden center even when the weather isn’t perfect. There will be fewer people and shorter lines, and the staff will have more time to answer questions. Check out the different plants as they arrive for spring planting, and practice by placing flowering plants in different arrangements.
Be prepared for the season by buying your gardening items early. In fact, now is the ideal time to look for great deals in the local garden centers and home improvement stores. The product orders for 2011 are already coming in, and any leftovers have to move.
The best deals will be on potting mix and fertilizers. Look for end-of-season clearance sales. Become a regular at your garden center. Making regular visits to get your supplies and check out the latest products will help you be prepared for next year and save some money.
Pay attention when driving around town, observing how other gardeners have used plant combinations. You will certainly notice quite a variety once you start looking. If you see something you like, make a note of it and visit the garden center. Don’t worry about feeling like you are copying someone else’s design idea.
And don’t forget one of the most important ways to make gardening a little easier. Talk to your gardening neighbors. Gardeners are some of the most generous people, always willing to share. I have even stopped my car and knocked on doors to ask about plantings.
Everyone has time-saving tips they use to make gardening more enjoyable. After all, that is the goal of gardening -- to be able to enjoy the sweat equity you have invested.
