Lifestyle Gardening
Ah, the garden. At this point in the season an established garden is starting to feel really lush and inviting to beings of all sizes. The pull to just sit and savor all day is strong for me right now. These are the days when enjoying the garden is easy, unconscious even.
And then there are the days when just a glance in the garden’s direction can make my stomach lurch thinking about the seemingly impossible task of keeping it tidy and cared for. The greatest hurdle to enjoying the garden, in that moment, is feeling like it is another box to check off on the to-do list. On the days that tending the garden feels like a burden, it can become less a place of peace and ease and more a place of resentment and overwhelm. When rest is a radical act - and in this age of capitalist fervor, it is - we need as many peaceful places in our life as we can get.
SO, are there steps that we can take to minimize the burden and maximize the rest? YES! Here is a list of ways to create a garden whose caretaking needs fit into your lifestyle which allows for more relaxation and less overwhelm.
Choose plants that require the amount of care you are able to give - if you have less time to care for the garden, look for plants that do not require much (if any) shaping or pruning and plants that require one round of cutback at the beginning of the season. If you have a small space, stay away from plants that are aggressive spreaders as they will quickly overwhelm the planting.
Choose plants that have similar growth tendencies for each planting area - aggressive plants together and less aggressive plants together. If you mix the two, you will find the aggressive plants out-competing the others and it will make you sad.
Choose plants that tolerate a range of growing conditions - hardy plants can thrive no matter what the weather brings and will require less input from you during challenging times.
If you can, stuff in as many plants as possible at initial planting - this will leave less space for uninvited plants to grow.
Choose plants that can fill in an area quickly - if you have a large area that is feeling overwhelmed by uninvited guests, plants that seed around easily or form large colonies through rhizomatous roots are a great way to fill an area on a smaller budget.
Start small! - this is huge! Starting with a conservatively sized garden is the best way to ensure success. You can then expand as you are ready.
Learn about the growth habits and lifestyles of different weeds to better understand how you can work with them in your garden - some weeds are not super invasive and do not need to be removed with the same enthusiasm as others.
Find beauty in new and exciting places - weeds are pretty too! See how they mingle with the plants in your garden, and watch the pollinators that they bring to the space.
Call in help when you need it - Share a workday and a meal with a friend or neighbor, or call in professional help (hey hey!) to refresh or reorganize your space.
Of course, there are moments in the cycle of the seasons when the garden does require extra tending. Newly planted gardens need more watering than the clouds are likely to supply, and those fast growing, prolific weeds seem to be a constant presence whenever there is a sliver of soil left bare. When your activity in the garden is a balanced mix of work and play, it is easier to manage that extra work and be able to provide for the garden with care.
xoxM