Here are my top 10 lessons learned from this past gardening season (Letterman style with the worst being #1):
10)Rabbits like Asters – not much more to say here … I’ve tried for years now to grow various cultivars cause their colors draw you in at the end of summer and inevitably they get chewed up good … NEVER AGAIN.
9)Stop wasting time/effort/money on planting tulip bulbs – the wet soil over winter kills them every time … hopefully planting them in pots in the garage over the winter will yield positive results.
8)Deadhead the Caryopteris flowers much sooner – for whatever reason my Caryopteris ‘Sunshine Blue’ reseeded beyond my wildest dreams all over my gravel driveway … had no idea this was a concern so hopefully I took action soon enough this past fall.
7)Accept the use of annuals – I have ignored annuals forever as I couldn’t justify their 1 year use – I became too obsessed with watching the progress of all the shrubs/perennials/grasses each year. Well consider me a convert now after realizing the benefit of using annuals as fillers in strategic spots and their obvious use in containers. I’ve grown to really like the various coleus cultivars … now let’s see if I can actually use them correctly.
6)The lawn is way overrated – I live on about 2 acres and used to pay someone to cut our lawn on a weekly basis. My bright idea was to finally purchase a tractor so I could control when and how high the lawn was cut. Well it takes me about 2 hours a week to cut the lawn and that time is way too precious. Other than allowing the kids a place to play, me no likey the grass. The effort vs reward ratio is way too low so I will continue to chop away at that lawn over the next few years.
5)Should have purchased more mature conifers – thankfully this year I discovered the awesomeness of conifers and the structure they bring to the garden. I mistakenly purchased too many of them way too small (about 12″) and it will obviously take them a while to grow to the point where they will make a statement. And knowing their mature size I placed them in prominent places in the back of the border so you can imagine how ridiculous it can look when all other plants are already at their mature size.
4)Be more realistic with available time – my scope this past off-season was way beyond any amount of time I would have … MUST STAY PATIENT … I spread myself too thin and never really focused enough on each mini project.
3)Remember the late Fall/Winter season is damn long so must do a better job of planting evergreens – early December through March my garden looks empty … and each year I know it but don’t do enough about it … the ornamental grasses have definitely helped but I need to add some smaller evergreens more strategically to up the winter interest … oh yeah … and I purchased a bunch of red-twig dogwoods this off-season so hoping that will help.
2)Really ashamed of this one – need to start composting – I know I know all the benefits … just need to friggin do it and reap the benefits … please don’t judge.
1)Accept the fact that I have really poor drainage – last winter killed about 10 boxwoods and numerous other shrubs/perennials because of the dreaded “wet feet”. I live in Hunterdon County, NJ and everyone always says “oh yeah you have a high water table there” … OK whatever that means … anyway I need to make sure the “likes wet feet” is included with each plant description. I have planted higher in the wet clay to hopefully offset the wetness … we’ll see.
Now you are officially allowed to judge/critique … I deserve it.