Introducing: Her Garden!

Am I crazy? How did I get into this?  Actually, when the opportunity was first mentioned, I leapt at the idea, gleefully, and pledged to write a monthly column (and a weekly blog) for one of my absolute favorite publications: Her Nashville. 

The appeal for me is in all of the knowledge I can pass along to Nashville gals.  I am the Lead Landscape Designer for Gardens of Babylon, an eco-conscious garden center and landscape company. I love what I do and am grateful now to have the opportunity to deliver a message Her readers are looking for. 

So, here it is, the inaugural installment of "Her Garden." 

Throughout the year, "Her Garden" will illustrate gardening tasks and adventures, answer questions about sustainable and organic landscaping and, hopefully, attract a few beginners to realize a sleeping passion.

Since earning a Landscape Architecture degree from the University of Georgia, all my individual and industry clients have seemed to want the same thing: a beautiful Earth. (And a blog?) Absolutely!

A lot of you are probably already wondering what needs to be done in your garden.  After all, everywhere you look, it appears your landscaping has a winter hangover. What’s a girl to do? 

The first of spring is the right time for planting, weeding, and mulching.  Prune your shrubs before they set buds, divide perennials as their shoots appear, and plant trees and shrubs now, to help them establish a root system before the heat of the summer.  Read my blog starting later this month for specifics on dividing perennials and planting techniques.

A thorough spring clean-up now will save you time and frustration later.  Start by clearing out left over leaves.  Use them to start a compost pile (more about composting next month!).  Throwing them into a landfill is like throwing away money.  Leaves have all the minerals and nutrients your plants needs; they are like a natural multi-vitamin for your entire yard. 

Once you have cleared away fallen leaves and debris, you can see how much weeding needs to be done.  Use good sturdy gloves that fit well and provide finger mobility, and find a comfortable knee pad (we do enough exfoliating in the shower – no need to cause calluses when you don’t have to).  Marie Iannotti from About.com lists the draw hoe, the warren hoe, and the scuffle, stirrup or dutch hoe as the most useful weeding tools other than your hands.  Your local garden center can show you how and when to use these.  

A little bit of horticulture on weeds: most of them are annuals.  That means they start each year from seed and die off in the winter.  That’s great news for anyone who hates to weed!  Seeds can come from anywhere; wind, rain, even birds move seeds from place to place.  However, if you control weeds before they produce seeds, you will see fewer and fewer each year.  Unfortunately, there are perennial weeds (tip:  “p” is for permanent).  This means in order to eradicate the weed, you must get the entire root system.  That’s where tools come in handy.

Proper tools also help when you set out to prune your trees and shrubs.  Depending on the size and type of your plant material, you may need one or more of the following:  pruning shears, lopping shears, hedge shears, hand saw, pole saw, and/or a small chain saw.

Pruning and hedging shrubs keeps them healthy and promotes denser growth from the bottom, as long as it is done correctly.  Make sure water can not pool in any of the cuts you make by slicing at a downward angle.  Cutting at a growth point, or where the limbs make a “v,” is the best place to remove a dead or dying limb. 

For more on the “whats" and "whens” of pruning, the University of Minnesota Extension Service has a great article. 

If you have large shade trees, you’ll want to make sure to protect them and keep them healthy.  They add value to your home.  Dean Glascock, owner of Arbor Art Tree Care, Inc., is wonderful to work with and is happy to provide free risk assessments and estimates.

Healthy trees and healthy lawns start with healthy soil.  Middle Tennessee is notorious for poor clay soil so it’s smart to test your soil now and find out what types of amendments you should apply for the growing season.  You can learn more from the University of Tennessee Extension Service.  Local garden centers can help arrange a soil test; Gardens of Babylon in the Nashville Farmer’s Market provides this service for only $30 plus shipping. 

Trust me, you don’t have to be a master gardener. You just need to know where to find your resources. That’s where I hope to help Her readers. Let us now what you are interested in learning, and we will be happy to explore ideas and gardening themes with you.  I will blog on timely tips and activities for Her gardeners. 

Some of the topics we will explore in the coming months include:  What are the best indoor plants? Are fall/winter gardens smart? How do you get your husband/boyfriend/dad to enjoy the garden, too? Herbs, setting boundaries on invasive plants, tomato tips ... these are all ideas for upcoming articles. I swear, the list will never end.

Now "Her Garden" is your source for sustainable, eco-conscious, pet-friendly and people-pleasing outdoor spaces.  If you have any questions in the meantime, don’t hesitate to call your local nursery. 

As always, have fun in the garden, and here are some timely tips to get you started: here!  

In April 
Tame your early blooming perennials by trimming yellow foliage
Prune late-season flowering shrubs before they set their buds
Stake perennials before they droop
Plant tender summer bulbs late this month

In May
Sod or seed Bermuda turf grass
Weed, then mulch to minimize re-growth of weeds and water loss
Weed, fertilize, mulch and water your vegetable garden for big dividends later
Cut garden flowers and bring indoors for a heavenly centerpiece
Separate and transplant Hellebores (Lenten Rose) and water-in thoroughly

In June
Keep your annuals dead-headed (removing spent flowers)
Fertilize warm season lawns with Hen Manure and Worm Castings
Prune Azaleas after flowering to improve health and shape
Divide early perennials that have finished blooming

When not working, running to the gym, on dates with her honey-bunny or hanging with her BFF’s, you can find Erin Sorrow in her garden.