Hardy Advice for Those Ready to Dig In

After a couple of weeks now of talking flowers, I was finally able to spend the last few days making real progress in my own gardens. Within my front yard, I had one particular patch that was starting to become a problem because of crowding and overgrowth among some mums, day lilies and the surrounding evergreen shrubs. (Sidebar: That experience alone really illustrated the importance of dividing your perennials every couple of years or so to prevent this from occurring. The best part about dividing is I now have great perennials to add to other locations in my garden or new beds, as I have a lot of projects in mind.)

It was admittedly a little hard to get started. Many of my perennials grew in so fast and so thick this year, I missed out on opportunities to divide, transplant, clean out old growth, pull weeds and other invaders, and the like. So, I'm now turning my attention to those areas that I do have more control over. As you get going in your own gardens this spring and summer, here is a little bit of advice based on my own experiences.

First and foremost, try not to get overwhelmed. My yard is a fairly good size with lots of space and beds that surround the house. I'm always adding new beds, and I never know where to begin. This year, I'm really trying to focus on one area at a time, and think through what I like about it, what I don't like about it, what doesn't look or feel right. It's not always as apparent as you think it would be. Sometimes I just start by pulling weeds and just see where that takes me. I'm definitely trying be a little more intentional with my gardens this year. I have a lot of "grandiose" ideas and I am trying to exercise more self control when I'm roaming the greenhouses.

Secondly, when you are adding new perennials, or dividing and moving things around, there will be some "casualties of war." Transplants will go through a little bit of "shock" in their new location, but just keep them watered thoroughly until they have had time to adjust. I have also experienced the disappointment of planting a perennial and not having it grow back the following year, or worse, having it grow in diseased. It's easy to get discouraged, but just keep trying new things. If you have flowers that are in good shape, but just don't seem to work in your garden, rather than kicking them to the curb, swap them with a friend or neighbor.

Gardening isn't rocket science, but it kind of is, in a way. There are a lot of factors that contribute to a plant's success such as the condition of the plant itself when it is purchased, your soil type, sun/shade and water requirements, pests, and I could go on. If you really want a maintenance-free garden, you'll definitely want to stick to some of the hardy favorites such as hosta, shasta daisy, black eyed Susan, coneflower (pictured) and day lilies.

Lastly, experiment and allow your tastes to change. Just like fashion trends, my style preferences for color, texture and silhouette change every season. Whereas last year, I wouldn't have even dreamed of adding begonias to my annual collection, this year, I can't wait to fill containers with their bright hues. Annuals are a great way to experiment with shape and color. If you find something you really adore, you might be able to find a perennial to mimic the look and feel. There are many flowers that I am excited to experiment with and welcome to my garden this year including hydrangea, Russian sage, begonia, clematis, hardy geranium, fountain grass and dahlia. And, I'm kind of wondering, what took me so long?