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When starting a garden, there are three basic points to keep in mind.
The first is timing. It is a must to know the frost date for your area. You can find this information out very easily from your local garden center. Since I live in the Chicagoland area, I have learned that even if we get warm and sunny and beautiful weather before May 15th, we could still get frost. All of my hard work will be lost if I plant too early. So, if you just can’t wait, remember to keep an eye on the weather and cover those tender plants, if you choose to plant earlier than May 15th.
The second point is location…location…location. Remember, every flower has certain requirements. Look around your yard for the place you would like to plant. Then take in to consideration how much sunlight this area gets, and what type of sunlight. Is it morning or evening? This is very important, because many flowers need full sun, and then there are those that prefer the shade. Keep in mind that an area with a tree may get sun in the spring, and then as the leaves appear, this area will be shaded.
The third point is your soil. Soil to me is so very important!! You can get the most beautiful healthy plant and if you put it in the wrong soil, you will lose it. So check your soil by digging up a spade full. The biggest problem we have in this area is clay. For flowerbeds, you need the soil to be soft and workable. I like to add equal parts of peat moss, cow manure, and good quality topsoil together in a wheel barrel and then add this to the beds as I am planting the new plants. Before you add anything, clear the bed of all debris, weeds, and sod, and then turn the bed over with a pitchfork or hoe. If the area is large, a tiller is best. Make sure you loosen the soil as deep as you can. This makes it easier for the plants to put down their roots and just makes them happy. It’s called aeration.
Now that you have the beds all prepared, this is the time you will want to put a weed killer down, such as Preen. This should be applied about two weeks before planting.
The hard part is the wait. I keep myself busy by cleaning out my potting shed. I clean all my tools and replace any broken or just worn out tools. I look for new improved tools that make it easier on by knees or back. Look for sales on gloves, hoses, and garden hats during this time. I pull out all my garden magazines and plan, draw, and dream of that beautiful garden. I purchase seeds and bulbs that I want to grow, and clean the pots that they will soon grow in.
March and April may not be the busiest months, but by doing some simple preparation, it makes the month of May so enjoyable. Take the time now to prepare, and you will reap such peace and relaxation from your work. Whether it is a flower garden to pick flowers to take to a friend, a vegetable garden to grow the largest pumpkin with your children, or just a simple flower box to brighten up your morning coffee, remember this, the first place the Lord created for us was a garden, and then He added us to it.
Until next time, dream in flowers.
Monica Dunlap
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