My Best Piece of Gardening Advice

Happy Winter Solstice! I sit this morning and contemplate after the longest night of the year. Today is the official first day of winter and also the first day that our daylight hours begin to increase in the Northern Hemisphere. The gardening season will soon again be upon us.

The grey, dreary abyss that has been our recent uninspiring weather will soon begin to give way to scattered sunny days. I seize every good weather opportunity to do any possible clean-up and spring preparation. Getting outside for even an hour adds up to a lot accomplished between now and April; not to mention reaping the wondrous physical and mental health benefits. My Granny’s Fresh-Air Theory still holds true. I always thank myself later as much as I may dread bundling up and going out in the cold.

I am already thinking about what I want to grow and where to fit it into my landscape during these brisk outside excursions. Let’s be honest, I never stop thinking about what I want to grow next. I also take inventory of what I will need for spring. What areas need the most attention in terms of labor? What is the most critical work that needs to be completed first to save me from duplicating my efforts later in the season? (I prefer to work smarter and not harder.) Do I need to purchase seeds? What tools need some TLC? Is there anywhere I can concentrate my very limited gardening budget to get the most bang for my buck?

My best garden planning advice is DO NOT over commit. It is so easy to get swept up in all the pretty pictures, online videos, and catalogs that inspire grandiose garden aspirations. Trust me, I speak from lots of experience in biting off more than I can chew. If you plan TOO BIG, then you do nothing but set yourself up for failure because you will not be able to keep up with the garden space as the season progresses. It is much more advantageous to start small and then expand. I expand a little bit every year; even the years I say I am not going to expand anymore. This year I am striving to stick to my guns and not expand or develop any new garden spaces. Instead, my vow is to reclaim a few areas in my landscape that have gone astray over the last year or two. Otherwise known as: digging and pulling a lot of grass. This also aligns with any New Year’s fitness resolution I may concoct over the next week and a half. Eradicating unwanted grass equals a great workout. No gym membership required. Which also fits into my financial budget and my New Year’s money saving resolution. Win-Win-Win.

Wishing everyone a happy holiday season and lots of merry solstice gardening dreams.
Here’s to growing all the things,
Shannon