The New Year is a good time to make resolutions for a more beautiful, beneficial and pleasant garden. “If you commit to doing a few things a little better each season, your garden and gardening will become more satisfying each year,” said Sharon Yiesla, plant knowledge specialist in the plant clinic at Morton Arboretum in Lisle.
Here are some Plant Clinic suggestions for gardening resolutions.
Resolve to think ahead. Instead of waiting until the flowers show up at hardware stores to think about the garden, start planning now. You have time to research the right plants, set a budget, make sure you have enough space, and consider who will water the vegetables when you go on your planned vacation.
Resolve to measure and evaluate your space. “Basing your planting decisions on real information rather than guesswork will save you a lot of money and a lot of work,” Yiesla said. Get a 25- or 100-foot tape measure and use it to accurately measure all of your garden's dimensions. Draw a rough plan and mark the dimensions on it. Include not just garden beds, but also the house, driveway, walkway, lawn and shed. As you do this, mark the area shaded by the branches of your trees, the locations of your outdoor faucets and window fountains, and the direction from which the sun shines. “A plan doesn’t have to be pretty, but it does have to contain all the relevant information,” she said. Another good idea: Take comprehensive photos of your garden to use as a reference when shopping for plants or to show to garden center staff when purchasing plants.
Resolve to keep records. You can do this with a notebook, a digital document or folder, or photos on your phone, but keeping track of each gardening season in a form that you can refer back to later can give a huge boost to your gardening. “You’ll be able to remember what you planted and when, what worked and what didn’t, what was nice and what was a disappointment,” Yiesla said. “You'll know which vegetables to buy again next year and which to avoid.” Take photos of plant labels, receipts, the signs of good nurseries, inspiring gardens you visit, and problems that arise with your plants, as well as muddy messes, bare spots and other garden improvement opportunities.
Consider starting a compost heap. Think of clippings, clippings, weeds and fallen leaves as future soil amendments. Create a place where they can partially break down into useful, nutritious compost. “You can use a container or a simple stack,” Yiesla said. For more information, visit mortonarb.org/composting.
Before you buy, plan to research plants. “You'll have a lot less disappointment if you choose plants wisely,” she said. This means comparing each variety's space, sun, soil type and water needs with the conditions in your garden. “Know when a plant should bloom and be suspicious if it blooms too early at the garden center,” she said. “Before purchasing a tree or shrub, read the label and determine the full, mature size the species or variety will reach. If it’s likely to outgrow your space in 10 years, don’t buy it.”
Resolve to cool your jets. “Don’t rush to spray plants with insecticides or herbicides until you’re sure it’s really necessary,” Yiesla said. “First, identify the problem and then get help deciding whether treatment is necessary and what it should be.” Unnecessary pesticides are costly and often useless and can kill beneficial insects and plants. The Plant Clinic (mortonarb.org/plant-clinic) can help you determine the cause of garden problems and determine a course of action.
Resolve to pay attention. “Our climate is becoming more volatile, unpredictable and prone to extremes,” Yiesla said. “Our plants try to cope, but sometimes they can't.” Regularly monitor the 10-day weather forecast and how your plants are growing throughout the season. So water them as needed and give them any other help they need.
Resolve to mow later and higher. The cool-season grasses in our lawns really don't grow much before May, so there's no rush to mow. “If you let the grass grow and get full before you start mowing, it will crowd out the weeds and give you a healthy start,” Yiesla said. Grass is healthier when it's taller
has more leaf surface area to collect solar energy. It requires less fertilizer and is more drought resistant, so less water is required. “Raise the blade of your mower as high as possible,” she said. “3 to 4 inches isn’t too big.”
Consider adding some native plants. “They provide food and shelter for native animals,” Yiesla said. “Adding native plants to our gardens helps preserve biodiversity.” That doesn't mean you have to give up beloved non-native plants like roses, but incorporating native species of perennials, grasses, shrubs and trees will provide habitat for insects, Birds and other wildlife enrich the entire region.
For advice on trees and plants, visit the Morton Arboretum's online resources at mortonarb.org/plant-care, or ask questions online at mortonarb.org/plant-clinic or by email at plantclinic@mortonarb.org. Beth Botts is an arboretum employee.