Another year is upon us — I can tell because just yesterday I had half a dozen plant catalogs in my mailbox (and probably another half-dozen in my email). Dreaming up garden plans for the growing season is what I value most about winter. In no other season can I take the time to carefully strategize and rethink what works and what doesn’t for my landscape. Will I finally tear out the gangly plant that annoys me even though it’s healthy? What can I do for that problem area of dry shade in the corner? What are some fundamental ways in which I can garden in healthier ways for myself and wildlife? Well, here’s what I’ve been thinking and that I hope helps you this year.
Let it go to see what we can learn. This doesn’t mean I’m advocating “messy” design; instead, see what the garden has to teach you. Gardens aren’t static, and neither are we. If you let a portion of the garden be itself for the entire year, what happens? If weeds move in and current plants struggle, maybe your soil is too rich (lots of natives prefer a leaner soil and weeds love it sweet), or maybe the ground is too bare and open. If that plant you’ve been babying dies away, then good riddance –— find something more suited for the spot. Be a plant whisperer and let them tell you where they want to be, which means letting them self sow. When you do this you might also be surprised at the wondrous designs nature makes in your garden.
Stop gardening by hardiness zone. Last year I finally gave up on following hardiness zone numbers on plant tags. It’s not a very accurate or surefire way to know what will grow well for me in any circumstance. What’s tried and true are the plants from my area, so I garden by ecological zone, which means much less maintenance on my part. (I spend just a few hours of necessary work in my garden each year.)
How to Find the Right Plants for Your Garden
Plant more native plants and fewer exotics. When I started gardening I used whatever the local nurseries had and what I thought could work. Years later I’ve found that natives work a lot better — our temperatures here in Nebraska range from minus 30 to 110 degrees Fahrenheit, and we experience weeks and months with little rain. Each year I remove a few more exotics, even if they’re performing well, because I know in the long run natives will be more robust and support more wildlife like bees, butterflies and birds. I see it every day.
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