Easy Gardening

Dr. Gary Bachman: Now is the time to start thinking about how to make the garden a lot easier next year and beyond. Today on Southern Gardening.

Announcer: Southern Gardening with Gary Bachman is produced by the Mississippi State University Extension Service.

Dr. Gary Bachman: I'm one to try and make the garden a little easier to take care of, especially when it gets hot later this summer. So I try to give some hints and tips to make garden chores more tolerable. In the spring, we are all suffering from cabin fever and the flowering plants at the garden centers all seem to be calling our name, but try to resist the siren call. Pick plants that will work in the growing conditions of your landscape and remember the KISS method of gardening and landscaping only by what you will have time and energy to take care of. You can always buy more plants as the season progresses and watering can take up a lot of time hauling hoses around the garden. So try soaker hoses to apply water exactly where the plants need it. They will save time and money. Container gardens will need to be watered more frequently, usually at least once a day in the heat of the summer.

Simple drip irrigation kits are available at your favorite garden center or a home improvement store and make great Christmas presents. They are easy to set up and when used with a timer, your watering chores are automatic for the season. One of my favorite quotes from Star Trek was Scotty saying, "The right tool for the right job." This is good advice in any century. Choose tools that are the right size and fit your hands comfortably and be sure to keep your tools sharp. Use a file to sharpen, or even some hardware stores will sharpen tools for you. I'm horticulturist Gary Bachman for Southern Gardening.

Announcer: Southern gardening with Gary Bachman is produced by the Mississippi State University Extension Service.