Year One of Gardening - Lessons Learned

Gardening Lessons Learned

So, I'm a Northern California Central Valley resident.  And the first thing I noticed after moving to this area is the fertility of the soil.  I recognized that this area is one of the largest producers of the nation's produce.  Grapes, asparagus, garlic, onions, tomatoes, corn, squash, melons, strawberries, peaches, figs, almonds, pecans, pears, pomegranates, list goes on, all grow in the surrounding farmlands.  My neighbors grow peaches, nectarines, lemons, cherries, and I'm sure, a ton of different vegetables.

Having realized what all can grow here, I decided I want to try my hand at growing something as well.  I started by asking my fiancee to build 4 wooden garden beds.  I walked through the aisles of plants at Lowe's and picked out what I thought was beautiful and affordable.  I selected a couple 12-packs of annuals and a few 12-pack of perennials.  I bought a lot of garden soil.  Garden soil, not potting soil.  I filled the planter beds halfway with dirt from the ground, and halfway with the garden soil.  Then I planted all my flowers.  I didn't think too much about what should go where or what areas of the backyard provide more sunlight than others, etc.

Well, it turns out that some plants like shade more than others and some like sunlight more than others.  Within a month or so, I could see what was happening.  So, I started researching what each flower required as far as care and maintenance.  Once I realized what their differences were, and what they like or don't like, I was able to re-arrange them into more beneficial areas.

The reason why I decided to write a blog about my experience so far is because I didn't know where to start and I really didn't know what I was doing.  I get that every gardener has to step out there and try on their own, but it would be nice to have some guidance.  And I'm not talking about guidance from the people at Lowe's or Home Depot, because as it turns out, they don't know what they're talking about or they just don't plain know the answers to your questions.  But what is good about Lowe's is their return policy on plants, specifically on perennials, trees, and shrubs.  They have a 1 year return window, as long as you have your original receipt and the container the plant came in.  You can show up with a pile of dirt and a twig and get your full refund as long as you have the receipt and container.  This return policy came in quite handy as I was experimenting with my initial plant choices.  The return policy on annuals is a bit different.  You have to return with a 60 or 90 day window (forgetting now which it is) with receipt and container.  And yes, I have a pile of Lowe's containers and a Ziploc bag full of receipts for sales and returns.  It's worth it for me.

Garden Tools and Accessories - Here's a list of what will help you get started.

For my garden tools, so far, I have purchased a shovel, a fork, a good pair of gloves, a watering pail, and some pruning shears.  You'll want to make sure the shears are rust-free and you should store them in a dry place. And you want something sturdy that has a good grip so your hands don't inadvertently slip and you end up getting cut by a rose thorn.  That's actually happened to me. Ouch.

For my garden sprays, I've purchased Garden-Safe insecticides and fungicide. So far, they've been consistent in keeping insects away without completely wilting the flowers.  And the fungicide spray is great for rose bushes. Any time I see white powdery mildew or black spots forming on the leaves, I spray and away the diseases go.

To improve soil fertility and overall health of the plants I've invested in, I use Miracle-Gro growth supplements. I tried other off-brand names for the fertilizer, and food, but I've noticed that Miracle-Gro does the best job for a showy garden and long-lasting blooms. The garden soil from Miracle-Gro is also phenomenal.  Again, I've tried the off-brand products over time and again, this name-brand works best. Yes, you pay a premium price, but it is well worth it. There are a lot of types of plant foods to choose from within the Miracle-Gro product line, but this little box (pictured to the left) works and I don't need to give much to the plants, just a little spoonful every month or so.  The spoon is included in the box.


I'm also learning that a portable kneeling bench is a good thing to have.  I've made a makeshift one using a wooden plank, covered with a cushion from my patio set.  But I also saw a nice one at Ross in their garden section that I might buy. I've also seen these online at Amazon and Wal-Mart dot com.

Without a kneeling bench, your knees will be feeling the pain after a day of planting or transplanting. When I'm clearing the ground of debris and when I'm trimming back the plants, I use my makeshift kneeling bench and my knees thank me, I'm sure.

Protection from Cats, Pests, and other etceteras.

One thing I noticed once the plants were all put into the ground and the area was cleaned, the neighborhood cats started lurking about in my garden. And all of a sudden, I started smelling pee everywhere.  So, I went online and found that sprinkling chili powder or pepper on the fence will keep the cats away.  Tried it, it works.  I used cayenne pepper.

Another annoying thing I noticed is snails and slugs were destroying my flowers as soon as they started blooming.  I went online again and tried some of the solutions that were suggested.  I found two things work for my garden--egg shells and pennies.  I use both.  I sprinkle dried and crushed egg shells around the flowers that seem to attract snails or slugs.  You can tell which flowers are being attacked by simply looking at their leaves and stems.  If you see a glossy film that looks like snot, those flowers are being "slugged" or "slimed". Also, I gather my spare pennies and sprinkle them around the flowers.