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Posted: Oct/29/2007 5:59 AM PST
How does one set priorities in the garden? If first things come first; what are the first things? Should you be dead heading flowers or digging up dandelions, edging beds or planting trees, reading how-to books or cutting the grass? I have spread myself too thin and I'm reaping the mistakes I've sewn. My site is a large farm yard in a windy location and the soil is clay. My first book was Xeriscape for the Prairies and it turns out we have MORE than adequate moisture; ie. sometimes it forgets to quit! And I 'ain't' getting any younger so how can I do this in a smarter way? How can I best utilize my time, strength, resources, and Dh's money? I'm looking forward to learning from you and laughing with you. And I am thinking I hear cheers from my beleagured plantings!!! leafette 
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Posted: Oct/29/2007 6:47 AM PST
I am speaking from personal experience only. It helps if I do one bed at a time. I do everything in that area that needs doing. I am not a perfectionist by any means but I take lot's of breaks and I have a gardening stool to keep the ol back from hurting. And for saving money, huh , good luck. I still haven't found anyway except clearence racks at lowes. 
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Posted: Oct/29/2007 7:33 AM PST
Ah! I'm not the thrifty type who saves money, Butterfly. I'm just trying to save my plants, and my sanity! Most of my soil amendments have been trees, shrubs and perennials! I'm optimistic that the learning curve should be soon leveling out, though! |
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Posted: Oct/30/2007 3:54 PM PST
Zone 2???? Hmmm.... have you thought about an ice garden.  Seriously, though... what grows in the gardens around where you live? I think trial and error are a part of the process too, so don't beat yourself up too much. 
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Posted: Oct/30/2007 7:18 PM PST
Winter interest is definitely a consideration. I am going to try to plan for more evergreens and shrubs to keep things interesting and take up some of the slack chore wise. I like junipers. Studying the neighbours is a bit harder because we are spread far apart and they have a lot of iris, day lily, petunias and lilacs! I do know town which is 5 miles away has blooms about 2-3 weeks earlier than I do. I am going to look for a book on shrubs and plants for my province and leave those zone 6 magazines in the grocery stores! Thanks!
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Posted: Oct/30/2007 8:04 PM PST
Leaf, I've found it helpful to concentrate on one garden at a time, and try to be willing to let the others "get by," and not stress because they're not perfect looking. With 7 different gardens as well as two apple and one peach tree, I sometimes have to force myself just to get one garden done at a time. For example, this fall my perennial bed really could've used some dividing. But the veggie garden and the fact that I've "adopted" two more apple trees took up my spare time, and that didn't get done. Ah, well it'll have to wait 'til spring. I also have a notebook/journal where I jot down what I'd like to accomplish, but do not set a deadline or even a start/end date. That way it's just an idea or reminder of something I'd like to get to, eventually...
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Posted: Oct/31/2007 6:58 AM PST
I found a virtuos woman! Of course! Why hadn't I thought of that? That's cause I'm only a virtuous woman wanna be and I'm stuck on the p words. Patience and perseverance. Thank you! The optimum word or letter is S. I have somehow been thinking garden singular and whenever I get frustrated I start fresh. I begin. So I have made wonderful starts at the front steps. The weeds and the plantings are actually not bad. But the farthest away which is what I see while I sit in front of the 'puter... Oh, not so good! And then that brings angst! Soooo, I begin again at the front steps! Oh, winter gardening is gonna be fun. I'll buy another book (journal), make plans and then come spring, go directly to whatever plants feel like they are living in jail. I shall not pass GO! Hurrah! hmm, 'course I'll have to start my journal at the beginning with the front steps! 
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Posted: Oct/31/2007 4:24 PM PST
Yes - I understand your frustrations!!! I get overwhelmed every time I set foot outside....but, bit by bit it gets done. I just do, as others have said, one bed at a time. I'll take one afternoon and go out and attack the dandillions in the grass....then another, I will deadhead, etc. As far as the budget....I pray for my plants to reseed....and then have a friend who I exchange baby plants with...sure saves buying them at the nursery! Good luck....no one ever gets it all done .... it is an ongoing work of art and one that should be enjoyed and a place of relaxation, not stress! Have fun! |
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Posted: Oct/31/2007 5:25 PM PST
Quote: Originally posted by leafette I found a virtuos woman! Of course! Why hadn't I thought of that? That's cause I'm only a virtuous woman wanna be and I'm stuck on the p words. Patience and perseverance. Thank you! Well, I've got a secret. I married into the name, used to be a Smith (honest!). The saying goes for my hubby's side of the family that "Patience is a virtue, but Virtue has no patience!" Even got bad enough that I joked about naming a female child of mine Patience just to get some in the family! Just looked at your farm pictures, don't know why you don't like the garden you've got, it looks fantastic from here... The grass is always greener on the other side, eh?
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Posted: Nov/01/2007 8:02 AM PST
I'm all for getting patience however ya can! I'm not unhappy with my basic plan. But my plants are not growing and filling in as they should. It is either a soil, a location or a management problem. I have a lovely plan for day lilies, cone flowers, lily, Russian sage and coreopsis. Daylilies have done absolutely nothing, lilies are sickly yw/gr, coreopsis is history for the 3rd time but Sage looks wonderful, and I added a few more coneflower and it looks like they are taking. This is my dryer area as the hose hardly reaches. But it is backed by an alpine current hedge so I was digging in new composted manure and thought the hedge roots might be the culprit. Now confession is good for the soul, so... I try to save some $$$ by dividing stuff and I'm thinking I'm rushing things so I'm gonna buy plants from now on. So we were talking about patience, right. I shall practice it over the winter but I'm thinking I'm gonna try more water up there. And I'm gonna put big mouse traps around any plant that I think would look better in a different spot! Leave it alone, leafette!!! 
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