Gardening is an adventure with rain, droughts, insects and diseases, but there are ways to make the adventure less stressful. Here are eight “dirty tricks” to make it easier.
1. Improve your soil.
The foundation of your garden is your soil. Loose, fertile, well-drained soil will make your gardening experience a good one. If you are a new gardener, have your soil tested. A basic soil test will tell you if you need to improve the nutrient levels of your soil. Soil tests cost $15 to $20. Test your soil every 3 to 5 years. If you live in an area with heavy, clay soils, add a 2 to 4 inch layer of organic matter to your garden in the spring or fall and dig it in 6 to 8 inches deep. Fall is probably the best time to do this because the organic matter will have time to start to break down before winter sets in.
2. Choose the best location.
Another essential gardening task is choosing the best location for your garden. Most vegetables and flowers need 6 to 8 hours of full sunlight for best growth. Choose a site for your garden as far away from trees and shrubs as possible to avoid competition from their root systems for water and nutrients. Select a site close to a water source.
3. Water properly.
Vegetables and flowers need at least 1 inch of water per week. Buy a rain gauge to check rainfall amounts in the garden. Water the soil to a depth of at least 6 to 8 inches. Avoid watering during the hottest part of the day. You will lose 50 percent of moisture applied through evaporation when watering between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Water at the base of the plant to avoid wetting the foliage. Wetting the foliage during each watering is inviting disease. Use soaker hoses instead of overhead sprinklers for watering. If you use overhead sprinklers, try to water early enough in the day to allow plants to dry before nightfall. Use a 2- to 4-inch layer of mulch around plants to conserve moisture and to prevent fruit rot of vegetables.
4. Buy disease-resistant varieties.
The best way to control disease is to purchase disease-resistant varieties. Verticillium and Fusarium wilt are two major diseases that attack tomatoes. Tomato varieties like 'Celebrity' and 'Better Boy' have a built in resistance to these diseases. Some annuals and perennials have a built-in resistance to powdery mildew. Avoid working in the garden when plants are wet. Diseases thrive in wet conditions. Proper spacing of plants will allow good air circulation around plants, allowing them to dry quickly after watering or rain. Keeping plants fertilized and growing vigorously will help them to withstand disease problems.
5. Use integrated pest management techniques for insect control.
Try to avoid using insecticides in the garden. If you must use them, use only as needed. Some insecticides will kill bees. Bees are needed for pollination in order for fruit production to occur. Identify the insect before you use insecticides or any alternative treatment. Many local Extension offices will help you with insect identification. Monitor your garden on a daily basis for insects. Don't forget to check under the leaves. Insect populations can increase rapidly. Clean up your garden at the end of the growing season. Many insects will overwinter in debris left in the garden.
6. Start a compost pile.
Composting is nature's way of recycling and is the key to healthy soil and a healthy environment. It is a satisfying way to turn your fruit, vegetable and yard trimmings into a dark, crumbly, sweet-smelling soil conditioner, and it saves you money by replacing store-bought soil conditioners. Composting also helps garden and house plants grow by improving the fertility of your soil, saves water by helping the soil hold moisture and reducing water runoff, and benefits the environment by recycling valuable organic resources, reducing air and water pollution from refuse trucks and runoff and extending the life of our landfills.
7. Use mulches.
Use mulches in your garden during the growing season and during the winter. Mulches conserve moisture, prevent weed growth and help to maintain even soil temperatures. During the growing season, put down a 2- to 4-inch layer of organic mulch around plants after the soil has warmed up in the spring. Be prepared to replenish the mulch during the growing season as it will gradually decompose. Organic mulches can be turned into the soil at the end of the growing season. Plastic mulch can be used for warm-loving plants like tomato, pepper, pumpkin, cucumber and sweet potato. Soil temperatures under black plastic mulch will be 10 degrees higher than bare soil. Organic mulches applied around perennials in late fall after the ground has frozen will help to prevent freezing and thawing, which can expose roots to cold temperatures.
8. Do some research.
Get to know your plants before you invest your hard-earned dollars to purchase them. Checking out the growing requirements and potential insect and disease problems of plants before you purchase them can save you a lot of headaches down the line. Check out your local library for gardening information. Do some research on the Internet. You can't go wrong by checking on plant information provided by your local Extension Service.