People and gardens share a common bond: We both benefit from daily routines. Whether you launch each day with a soothing cup of hot tea or end it with some quiet time, the anticipation and pleasure of these rituals feed the need for structure or solace in a busy world.
Likewise, a garden benefits from timely routines. Some tasks are better performed in the morning. Others can wait until day’s end. Here are a few things you can do to help your blooms, as well as your mind and body, flourish.
Cool Morning Pleasures
With tea or coffee in hand, head out to enjoy civilized temperatures, birds singing, and a few moments outdoors.
• Water. Loosen up and get moving by watering your garden. Apply water directly to the soil, where it matters most, and thoroughly saturate the area. Damp leaves dry in the day’s heat, preventing moisture-related disease problems. Remember to conserve this important resource, and don’t allow water to run down sidewalks or into the street.
• Cut flowers. Start your morning with a cheerful bouquet. After night’s cool respite, blooms are at their best. Bring a bucket of water into the garden and place cut flowers immediately into the tepid liquid. Stems cut at an angle take up moisture better than those cut straight across. Spread the joy by sharing your flowers with others.
• Fertilize. Plants are like people; we all do better with a little nutrition before facing the busy day. First, apply clear water to your flowerbed or pots. Then feed with a water-soluble liquid fertilizer to keep plants blooming. Always follow package directions when applying.
• Evening Relaxation. Grab some iced tea or a glass of wine. Head out for a few minutes at dusk to enjoy the day’s end with these tasks.
• Deadhead. With snips in hand, remove spent flowers. This process encourages new buds and blooms for the plant and provides the stress-relieving benefit of clipping off ragged flower heads for you. Always cut directly above a set of leaves.
• Harvest veggies. Pick the freshest produce in town, still hanging onto the sunshine in your yard. Herbs and vegetables enhance a tasty, nutritious meal with only a few minutes between garden and table.
• Mow. If you’re up for some exercise (see “Trim Up With Mowing” ), evening makes the best time to crank up the mower. The lawn is dry, so the grass cuts cleanly. The freshly shorn turf heals before the sun becomes scorching again.
"Everyday Gardening Routines" is from the June 2008 issue of Southern Living.
