Released April 17, 2007
MADISON,Wisc. - Gardening has become one of America's most popular leisure activities. In fact, home gardeners support a good portion of the state's $157-million horticulture industry.
If you're a gardening beginner thinking of joining the growing trend toward growing things, University of Wisconsin master gardener program coordinator Susan Mahr suggests some things to consider before you get started.
"Some people are big on planning and drawing maps of where they will plant everything," Mahr said. "I don't really have time to do that. I have a plan, but usually I have it in my head, not on paper. Some people may be more comfortable if they have a map of their space and a formal, written planting plan, especially if they are not familiar with the plants they plan to use."
At the least, however, you'll want to evaluate your garden site and your own preferences and choose plants that will thrive where you plant them.
Perennials or annuals? Perennials die back to their roots each autumn and return again every spring. Annuals must be replanted - from seed or greenhouse-started plants every year. For a beginning gardener, annuals will bring quick rewards; many bloom all summer; and they provide some lessons in garden design without the larger investment you'll make to purchase perennials.
Shade or sun? This is one of the most important questions to answer before you begin to plan your patch. You'll find the greatest variety of annuals in the sun-loving category, but there are colorful choices for shady areas as well. Impatiens and begonias both have bright blooms that last throughout the summer. And coleus comes with a variety of brilliantly colored leaves.
Wet or dry? If you're planting a flower bed in an exposed sunny location, some of the best choices are drought resistant marigolds, portulaca, gazania and cosmos. If your spot is low and damp, these plants will not do as well as impatiens or begonias.
Good soil or poor soil? Call your local UW-Extension office to find out where you can have your soil tested. This test will tell you if you need to add fertilizer or other amendments before you plant. "Regardless of the problem, it almost always helps to add organic matter," Mahr said.
Big and tall or short and squat? When you're choosing plants at the nursery, remember to find out how big each kind will be when it is mature. "You'll want to plant taller plants in back of shorter ones, so you need to know how tall it will be in July or August." Mahr said gardeners should also check to see how big around each kind of plant will be. "If plants are too far apart, they allow more weeds to grow between them. If they're too close together, crowding will make the plant grow too high and it can also promote the spread of plant diseases."
High maintenance or hammock? How much time do you want to put into maintaining your garden? Does pulling weeds, watering and plucking off dead flower heads relax you? Or would you rather be napping in the shade. Low maintenance flower beds usually contain plants that do not need to have old blooms removed to keep the plant in new blooms. Marigolds and impatiens both continue to flower through the season without deadheading, although marigolds look better if old blooms are removed occasionally.
Your first gardening season will go better if you act early to discourage weeds, Mahr said. "Try to get as many of the annual weeds pulled and removed from the garden as early as possible - before they go to seed. Then smother any new weeds by putting down a thick layer of mulch."
Finally Mahr says gardeners should invest in a few high quality tools. "Look at what you have and think about what other tools you might get to make things easier. You can do most gardening chores with a shovel and a stick, but having the right tools will make the work more enjoyable and rewarding."
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http://www.uwex.edu/news/2007/04/hints-to-make-things-easy-for-the-beginning-gardener
Contact: Sue Mahr,(608) 265-4504, susan.mahr@ces.uwex.edu
