Now residing in a townhouse complex with a small cement slab patio, our move count is two; a weekly lawn service handles the grass.
Previously, my property boasted extensive flower beds and large yards, leading me to develop key gardening insights.
***
Establish Your Personal Gardening Objectives & Beliefs
After feeling pressured by neighbors' impressive gardens, I settled on these three primary goals for my yard upkeep:
- My aim is not to win the 'Most Beautiful Yard on the Island' award, but rather for visitors to see we are attentive residents.
- I adore blossoms and enjoy being near cheerful hues.
- Keeping costs low and maintenance minimal are essential requirements.
Gardening Advice for Saving Time and Energy
1. Begin weeding early during the planting period. If I postpone tackling young weeds, it becomes overwhelming! Following thorough weeding, I combine landscape fabric over clear areas with a generous layer of bark mulch.
This fabric does not eliminate all weeds, but it assists significantly. As for the bark mulch, I consider it black gold; it retains moisture and enhances appearance!
2. Ensure your plants receive proper nourishment. Like people, plants need sustenance alongside water for robust growth; yellowing leaves signal a nutritional need.
3. Research ground cover types prior to planting. Ground covers are plants that spread readily, forming a plant 'carpet' in flower beds, which is lovely if that look appeals to you.
However, for a tidier, more structured flower bed (like mine), ground cover can cause constant frustration. I actively avoid them, viewing them as weeds... {This is just my view!}
4. Work intelligently, considering your body during tasks. Due to fibromyalgia, gardening can trigger pain flares {comparable to my jogging attempts!}. My method involves avoiding waist bending (kneeling or sitting when digging/weeding), taking brief, frequent rests, seeking aid for heavy lifting, and staying hydrated. Crucially, heed pain and pause before it becomes intense… {Keep Advil nearby!}
5. Set boundaries suited to you… then discard guilt! If your gardening preference is a small container by your back door, that is perfectly acceptable. Even if your 'gardening' involves purchasing veggies and cut flowers, that is fine too!!
Allow me to share my personal situation:
In the West Coast climate, growth is quite easy. I also faced considerable 'peer' expectation to be a master gardener. I did cultivate veggie gardens and temporary greenhouses, but life necessitated significant gardening shifts…
Notice that large expanse of lawn in the front yard?
It once housed a substantial garden; I might be the first woman in a century at this house not tending a veggie patch.
Transitioning it to grass was initially humbling.
Yet, it brought considerable relief.
I am delighted with my two neat and lovely flower beds; the reality is, I have four more {large ones} resembling this:
I plan to address them gradually, though prior experience shows flowers are resilient enough to bloom even amongst weeds.
And with a little snip of my scissors and a cup of water, they look just beautiful on my window sill…
And {thankfully}, it’s weed free there.
More Gardening Posts
- Simple tips for hydrangea care in pots
- Summer cutting flowers
- Beginner gardening tips for flower gardens
