Garden Primer - Plan It, Don't Plant It!

A garden may soothe the soul and rests the weary mind, but it can also wreak havoc on unused muscles. However, if you like playing in dirt as much as I do then gardening can create the best type of “tired.” Ask yourself what could be better than ending your day with the sense of accomplishment; the beauty of newly planted flowers and the relaxation only a calm soul and body can provide. If you are still reading you must agree, so let me give you some lessons.

I have broken my Garden Primer into Lessons and easy ideas to make gardening easy. What I have learned and listed here and in the coming lessons will save you a few bucks; some aches and pains, and help you create your work of art. That is right art, your yard is a canvas, and you are the master artist and painter! As the artist, you decide the picture, the colors, and the textures that go on the canvas. Are you ready to get started on your canvas?

Lesson I – First Plan It, Don’t Plant It
I have made the mistake, and I am sure you have, of jumping in and starting planting without any idea of what I really want. We rush out and are overtaken by the beautiful colors and blossoms. Who wouldn’t start picking up containers of blooms and take them home? After wasting lots of money and dubbed a mass serial plant killer I decided I needed to find another way to plant.

I will admit that I like to be a little impulsive and hate to plan, but that is exactly what is needed for a successful garden, with the least amount of pain. Are you are already thinking, “I only want to be a spontaneous garden and grab what every catches my eye and plop it in the ground.” I can help you with that, but that is another lesson entitled, 10 Basic Steps to a Quick Garden. For those still reading lets see how to plan for a long lasting, beautiful flower garden.

Follow these easy steps:
1. Do not feel that you cannot garden in winter, of course you can. You can plan by snapping some pictures of the areas you want to splash with color once the weather warms.
2. Determine where the morning and afternoon sun hits. Log how many hours of sun or shade your selected areas receive.
3. Research via the web, garden magazines or books that types and names of plants that do well in your locale.
4. The great artist does not start painting the canvas until they have created a sketch or have a photo from which to work. That is what you need to do to plan a garden. No talent required, it does not have to be to scale --just an idea of thoughts you have. A sheet of graph paper is great for planning each area.
5. Identify all the plants you like and compare to spaces you want to plant. Are the plants on your list also on the plant you have found will do well in your locale? If so, great! If not, you can try what you like but, only plant a couple of sample plants and be prepared to deal with dying plants or unbelievable luck.
6. Planning the work is also necessary. Look at your sketch and envision the finished canvas. Now look at the reality. Ask yourself these questions and determine if you are ready to take on the garden project:
· What work is needed to remove existing plants, grass, weeds, and then planting the new items?
· How much time do you think you need to do the work, making sure you space the work so you do not overdo?
· How much work will it take to maintain the newly planted area and are you ready to commit to the upkeep?
· Can you easily water and weed the area?
· Do you have wildlife such as rabbits, moles, or deer that will eat your plants?
Once you have the answers and are comfortable with your plan you are ready to move to the next lesson, Puttin’ in the Thyme.

More About My Background

I enjoy many interests and pursuits, however the ones that bring me the most enjoyment are those that allow me to meld together several of my interests. When I have the opportunity to write about my interests, to reach out and help others expand on their pursuits, I am most fulfilled. I have recently completed two non-fiction books, Wine and Sweet Words and Life by the Glassful.

I enjoy writing for both the traditional print media and web sites as it feeds my creative side and provides an expanding opportunity to write about my interest in wines, gardening, and motivational and inspirational materials. Until recently, my business experience has been my prime writing focus. I have more than 30 years of success in business, most of which has been filled with writing on the many operational aspects of business.

I have owned my own businesses as well as helping many other firms, as an employee or a freelance writer, grow and prosper. My greatest hope is that what I am able to provide, either personal writings or business materials will touch and mentor people as they journey through life.

What started out as a sideline in business, using my creative writing of short stories, poems, and views of life, in supporting company newsletters and copywriting soon branched out. Promotional writing, creation of powerful presentations, and marketing materials, as well as operational management materials have all been projects I have successfully published. Over the years, I learned when the message is based upon a technical concept and product, it is still important to hone the communication into an interesting message that maintains the client’s need for relating complex and critical data. To serve the needs of business I found it most effective to straddle both creative and technical writing to get the message across to the reader.

The results of my writing have been published in nationally distributed consumer catalogs, on the internet, local newspapers, business publications, and national technical magazines: CQ Communications, Popular Science, Popular Mechanics, Communications Today, Popular Communications, Virginia Business News, QST and others.