Master Gardeners of Lubbock

Gardening Tips

By Liz Smitten, Certified Master Gardener

Originally printed in Avalanche Journal Gardening Supplement, Spring 2004

Many of today’s gardeners, including me, say their love of gardening came from their grandmothers. When I was a child, one grandmother’s small cottage garden of mixed annuals and perennials, and the other’s large vegetable and fruit garden were distinct but equally enchanted kingdoms. With the joy of helping tend the gardens came the privilege of spending long hours in the company of these remarkable women, whose wisdom applied equally to life and to gardening. One of the pleasures of gardening is that it gives me time to remember their sayings, to apply them to my gardening practices and beliefs, and to share them with friends:

God helps those who help themselves – Sometimes we make gardening harder than it need be. Routine use of compost improves the soil, while providing an organic mulch around plants prevents moisture evaporation, reduces weeds and stabilizes winter soil temperatures. Keeping evaporation to a minimum by watering when the temperature is cooler, and the wind not blowing, and more infrequent but deeper soaking is a wise use of our dwindling water supply, in addition to saving time and money.

A place for everything and everything in its place – Ideally most of our plants should be native or adapted to this area, but some gardeners like to try to stretch these limits. One way to accomplish this is to take a critical look at your garden to identify microclimates, such as a sunny, south-facing wall for more tender plants which might not otherwise make it through the winter, or a shaded spot protected from the drying Southwest winds. Gardeners who have plants which need more moisture can water more effectively by grouping these in a single bed rather than interspersing them with more drought-tolerant plants. Plants which may be too large for a space in the garden under sunny conditions can often be kept in check by planting them in partial shade. Even though they may not bloom quite as prolifically, their foliage will make an attractive accent. Likewise, many plants which are too aggressive or invasive under their optimal growing conditions may still have a place in the garden by reducing the available light or water.

A penny saved is a penny earned – Except for slow growing shrubs and trees, many perennials reach maturity in their second or third year, so it makes sense to buy smaller and less costly plants and have the fun of watching them grow. Other perennials which are easily divided, such as day lilies, are often sold in larger pots and when these contain four or five divisions, can be a real bargain.

Cleanliness is next to Godliness – a big part of every gardener’s time seems to be keeping the garden weed-free. Whether we use chemical control, hand-weeding, or a combination, timing is critical. There are a number of pre-and post-emergent chemicals for use in specific areas or against certain types of weeds. Reading and following the directions for all garden chemicals gives the best results, costs less in time and money, and minimizes any negative impact on our environment. Hand-weeding is labor-intensive, however many gardeners find this exercise gives them one more connection with the earth and their garden. One of the keys to hand-weeding is to do it when the plants are small, and before they have established a vigorous root system or have set seed. When I patrol my garden each morning and dig every weed I see, it only takes ten or fifteen minutes, and I have started my day with minimal time and effort and a very real sense of accomplishment.

There are many more childhood sayings which can relate to gardening, but I haven’t yet figured out how to make my mother’s favorite apply: “Always wear clean underwear in case you get hit by a bus!”

For more gardening information in Lubbock, visit the Lubbock Garden Clubs site.