Kelly: New year, new garden
With our warm, wet Christmas behind us, we can look forward to the new year. Many folks start January with a clean slate and resolutions to work toward. We might resolve to eat better and exercise or maybe spend more time with family.
There are many things we can aspire to improve in our lives, and gardening might be one of those. For gardeners, I propose that we start the year with the resolve to prevent problems that crept in last year and learn from your mistakes.
Consider these gardening resolutions for the new year:
Plan your landscape and work from this plan: Many landscapes develop over time based on plants we are given or buy on impulse at the nursery. The end result can be a hodge-podge of plants with no unity of design.
Take the time to develop a landscape plan for your home. Then, add plants as your time and budget allows. Know what your end goal is: Do you want something that requires minimum maintenance or something that is the envy of the neighborhood? Vegetable gardens thrive with good planning.
While tomorrow is just the start of January, now is a good time to start planning for a spring garden.
Water plants properly: It seems almost comical to talk about water in light of the amount of rain we've received the past few weeks. But, you know as well as I do, our hot, dry summer months aren't far away. Consider investing in a timer that will allow irrigation in the late night or early morning.
Morning irrigation applies water when the garden is already covered in dew. Use soaker hoses and drip irrigation when possible to deliver the water to the plant roots.
If you are fortunate enough to have an automatic system, install a rain or moisture sensor to prevent your system from watering during one of our infrequent rain showers.
Also, keep in mind that it is ideal for most soils to dry slightly between waterings. Plants in soil that is kept constantly moist have a host of root and crown disease problems.
Read and follow exactly the instructions on all chemical labels: The labels of garden chemicals contain a wealth of information. The print may be small, but you should familiarize yourself with the label prior to applying the chemical.
The label lists the amount of the product to apply and gives information about how to protect yourself and the environment.
Don't fall into the trap of thinking "if a little bit is good, then a lot is better!" Increasing the dosage of chemicals can result in pesticide residues remaining on harvested vegetables and leaching into the environment. If you still aren't convinced that the label is important -- remember, these aren't just suggestions, they are the law.
Learn from your mistakes and move on: There are some incredible gardeners in Macon, including our Bibb County Master Gardeners. While we can't all have a natural green thumb, we can learn and grow. If a new, prize plant isn't thriving in one spot, don't be scared to move it around until you get it right -- plants can be very forgiving.
Also, in your landscape trials and tribulations, keep in mind that there are some things simply beyond our control -- 80-degree temperatures and floods in December, for example.
Garden with the children in your life: Planting a bed and exploring the great outdoors with my daughter is one of the most rewarding -- and usually relaxing -- things I can think of doing. I don't get to do this often enough.
Whether you are a novice or a gardening expert, consider inviting a young person to sit beside you and learn from you. They are little sponges eager to soak up everything offered. Whether you have kids, grandkids, neighbors or friends, consider sharing this gift with them.
I wish you and your family a happy New Year and I hope you have a bountiful garden in 2016.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Bring One for the Chipper: The annual Christmas tree recycling event sponsored by Keep Macon-Bibb Beautiful will take place from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday at Central City Park behind Luther Williams Field.
Contact Karol Kelly at karolk@uga.edu.
This story was originally published December 30, 2015 at 9:49 PM with the headline "Kelly: New year, new garden ."