The Fearless Gardener

So many gardeners, especially those with little to no experience, approach gardening with some doubt and fear.  What if I kill it? What if my neighbors think my garden is ugly? What if my friend with a green thumb tells me I’m doing things wrong? What if...

As the old song goes, I say ‘Accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative!’ What if you have fun?  What if you enjoy working with plants? What if your garden brings you joy and puts a smile on your face because it is your garden? I am here to tell you, with the exception of a few rules, there is very little you can do wrong in your garden! This is your garden space, your time to dig in the soil, get your hands dirty and play! Be a fearless gardener and not only will your garden grow, but you will too! They are only plants. Oh my, can we even say those words out loud? You love your new plants. They are beautiful, especially when you first bring them home, but chances are, some will meet an early compost pile. It's ok! If at first you don’t succeed, try and try again. And don't be afraid to (try and) get your family involved, this can be a fun time for you to spend with your loved ones!

Do me a favor; go in to your bathroom and open the drawer where your cosmetics are stored. How many tubes of lipstick do you find? Compacts of eye shadow or bottles of foundation? Chances are there are lots! My point is you are going through trial and error processes all the time. It’s no different with plants! The more time you spend in the garden, the more plant savvy you will become!

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Thank goodness!  If we all liked the same garden design the world would be pretty boring.  If your heart sighs when working in a slightly wild, cottage garden then that is the garden style for you. Your neighbor who prefers the symmetrical perfection of a formal garden may not agree, but that is why she has her own landscape to care for and you have yours.

So think of it this way; I’m a country girl and if given a choice I’ll take a flannel shirt, blue jeans and boots any day. But that doesn’t mean I don’t admire haute couture fashion; it’s just not for me. My point here is surround yourself in plants that are pleasing to you and in a way that makes you comfortable.

Plant what makes you happy! There are few design rules in gardening, such as plant in threes (or odd numbers) and repeat plant groupings about the landscape. Many people find one of every plant a bit overwhelming or disjointed. Others see a wonderful collection of plants that are gardening favorites. So, while planting in three’s is technically a rule, rules are meant to be broken.

If you are new to gardening and you want to try your hand raising as many different plants as possible, go for it! Experiment as sometimes you need a year or two to find out which plants you like and perform best for you. You can always pair back. Add more of the plants you really love and edit a few out that you don’t (dig and give them to your gardening friends – they’ll love you for sharing).

Knowledge is confidence! There are some things you need to know to have a successful garden such as light requirements, how much to water, when and how much to fertilize and so on. Right now, as a new gardener, it seems like a lot to learn.  Luckily there are countless resources at your disposal including but not limited to:

Garden Centers: Consult your local retailers for answers specific to your geographic location (such as soil types, hardiness zones, native plants) and diagnosis of pests and diseases.

Books: A gardener can never own and read too many garden books. Garden-pedia: An A-Z Guide to Gardening Terms which I co-authored with my good friend and OSUE Master Gardener instructor, Pam Bennett, puts garden terms and phrases into an easy to understand, conversational tone perfect for assisting the novice and experienced gardener.

Master Gardeners and the University Extension offices: Most major universities offer Master Gardener courses. Sign up for a class or two and you can meet more experienced gardeners who can become your mentors and/or buddy up with someone of your skill level and learn together! Also, you can call the extension hotline with your most urgent garden and landscape questions.

Garden shows: Walking around a convention center filled with all things garden related is pure bliss, especially in the middle of winter! There you will have the opportunity to speak one-on-one with garden experts, sit in on lectures and demonstrations and collect information packed literature.

Follow blogs: Such as the KNOW HOW! blog posts you see here from the experts of the HGTV HOME Plant Collection, are a great source of information and inspiration.

Just like anything else, gardening is a learning process. It is fun, but it is also work at times, both physically and mentally, but the rewards can be varied; a great source of exercise, growing your own foods for healthier eating, an activity a family can do together and so on. However, if you have a few misses this year and next and the year after… don’t’ despair! Journal about what you’re doing in your garden, both the successes and failures, learn from it and put that experience to work for an even better garden next year.