Will you face the same gardening problems you had last year?
Probably so: water shortages, heat, diseases, insects and those
ever-present weeds.
To counteract all of these problems, ask the plants what they
think. They will answer you.
- Are you happy where you are? No? What do you need?
- What’s bugging you?
- Are you a Georgia plant, or do you wish you were back North
(or down in Miami, or under the Big Sky, or over in
Seattle)? - Are you feeling a bit moldy, or are you thirsty all the time?
Do you need sunscreen, or are you yearning for the light? - Are your feet comfy, or is the ground just too hard?
‘Listen,’ Too
If you “ask” your plants, then listen to them. Once your plants
have told you what they need, respond! And ask yourself:
- Do I have the right plant? If it’s a tomato plant and I’ve
had problems with nematodes in the past, do I have a tomato
resistant to nematodes? One that is resistant to diseases? Did I
buy a really healthy transplant? Am I trying to grow a plant that
is not adapted to Georgia conditions? - Do I have it in the right place? Do I have a plant growing
under shady conditions that needs 8 hours of sun? Do I have a
rosemary herb that needs well-drained soil planted in a heavy
clay area that stays wet? Is there enough air movement to dry the
foliage quickly to keep disease down? - Do I have it under the right conditions? Did I test my soil
for pH and fertility? Have I underlimed or overfertilized? Is the
plant in a place in the landscape where it will get too much
water from irrigation or not enough?
Responsible Gardener
Be a responsible gardener. Talk to your plants. Walk through your
landscape and question them. Allow their input. Observe closely
what they have to say.
They usually indicate readily the state of things down in the
garden.
