Garden Neighbors

Perhaps the best ways to get to know neighbors is by using the garden connection we all have today on Southern Gardening. 

People love to talk about their gardens.  And what’s not to like about that.  Sharing stories and ideas can make everyone’s garden a little better. 

There are also some practical reasons and benefits of sharing in the garden.  Garden maintenance, or at least some of the tools, can be shared.  How about those expensive and seldom used tools?  Now the guys, me included, are cringing a little because, well, we’re talking tools here.  But in the grand scheme of things sharing the costs of expensive tools makes sense. 

Concentrate on what you like to do best and share that talent.  If you like to start seeds most of the time there will be extras to share with those that don’t start their own.  Or maybe you like to divide plants and share the extra divisions. 

Do you ever take care of the neighbor’s garden while they are on vacation?  Why not do this all of the time.  Neighbors helping neighbors sure makes a dreary task like weeding or trimming more fun when there is company, not to mention get finished quicker. 

Here are some other ways to share in the garden:  Build a gate in the back fence to allow easier access to each other’s yard.  Create a common area for the kids to play in.  This can give you more room for those tomatoes or that daylily bed.  Or simply split packs of plants from the nursery. 

With all of our lives being so busy, the garden can help us slow down and help make our neighborhoods more beautiful.  I’m horticulturist Gary Bachman for Southern Gardening.