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Techniques
for Planning and Maintaining a Garden The factsheet database is a very helpful tool for finding more information on gardening related topics. For example, if you search for cutting garden, the factsheet database will locate 618 pages on this topic alone. You can also find culture requirements for plants and find answers to any questions you may have. Try it out, it's fun, and very useful. Planning Having goals and ideas in mind is something everyone shares in common before planting their garden. However, it is especially important to realize these goals and have them on paper before digging in the soil. Planning usually becomes the most forgotten steps of creating a garden. Ideally, all the planning should be done before planting season rolls around. Knowing your soil type, measuring off an area and calculating the square feet are the first steps to planning your garden. Once the perimeters are established, you can start deciding which plants to use and how many will be needed to fill the area. Light Do you have a sunny or shadey location? Full sunlight would yield the most flower color. Deep shade will provide primarily foliage. Partial and filtered shade will supply protection from the hot afternoon sun which can be damaging. Soil profile Do you know what your soil type is and how it behaves when drenched with water? Soil tests can be performed by local nursery or county extension office. Soil types limit the type of plants that you can choose from to fill your garden with. It is easiest to know your soil and select plants accordingly. Drainage is a crucial factor for plants. Clay soils hold water and plants have trouble extracting water out of the clay because the pore spaces are so small. Sand has large pores and often drains water quickly, leaving little water behind for plants. Silty loam, found commonly in Ohio, is well drained and also holds enough water for plants to uptake. Amenities can be added to the soil to increase drainage, nutrient content and moisture retention. Organic materials such as compost, manure and leaf litter can be added and worked into the soil with a rototiller. Soil improvement will show results the year after addition of nutrients. Mulching Mulching helps retain moisture, regulate soil temperature, and discourage weeds. Organic mulches such as wood chips, pine needles, straw, newspaper and leaf compost add additional nutrients to the soil in the decaying process. A 2" layer of organic mulch is more than adequate. Seeds can germinate and weave their way through straw. Other organic mulches are heavy and not suggested when you direct sow into the soil. Non-organic mulches such as landscape fabric and plastic can be especially helpful to keep weeds down when panting in rows. Planting Spacing plants is very important so that the plants reach their full potential. Keeping the garden full will result in less weeds and more flowers. The soil around the plant can be back filled with organic matter if necessary. The crown of the plant should always be level with the ground so that the stems do not rot in the soil. Tightly bound roots need to be loosened before planting to prevent girdling. Shorter plants should be placed on the border with the taller growing varieties in the middle. Plants can be arranged in rows or clumps. Leave room between planted clumps for a maintenance path. Odd numbers of plants can be planted in a staggered arrangement. Planting in masses gives a bold and organized effect to the garden. Watering Water is necessary for all plants to sustain life. Water as needed. About 1" of water every 7-15 days will give plants enough water to maintain vigor and increase root depth to prevent susceptibility to wilt in dry conditions. Irrigation in the morning is best to allow enough time for the foliage to dry before sundown. Dampness of the foliage at night will invite diseases and fungus. Fertilizing Nutrients help plants maintain strong roots and stems. The three essential plant nutrients are nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. Using a slow release fertilizer will eliminate the multiple applications of a liquid feed. Slow releases last for approximately three to four months. Sprinkle fertilizer atop the ground and watering will start the release of the nutrients. Selecting
Hardy Plants Knowing your climatic zone is essential when choosing hardy plant material. Purchasing a 'hardy' plant means selecting a plant that will survive the temperature extremes in your area. Annual flowers are not hardy unless the seeds can withstand temperatures. Annuals bloom, set seed and end their life cycle in one growing season. Perennials are plants that survive the cold of winter and the hot summer temperatures if hardy to a particular area. Ohio has two USDA hardiness zones, zone 5 (-20 to -10 degree F) and zone 6. Regionally grown plants are acclimated to local environmental factors purchasing plants from your local area is best. Lupin, Russell Hybrid 'The Chatelaine' Hardiness Zone and Frost Date Maps of the United States http://www.wholeherb.com/HRM.HTM |
