Improve a garden’s beauty, increase enjoyment, and reduce stress five minutes at a time. As gardeners we know, and research proves that gardening is good for the mind, body, and spirit. However, busy schedules often lead to neglected projects, weedy gardens, and long to-do lists.
We often delay tackling these tasks until we have an afternoon or evening to dedicate to our landscapes. By then the weeds have overtaken the garden, perennials become floppy and veggies are past their prime. Fight the overwhelming desire to give up. Instead, look for small tasks that can be done in between other activities or when you need a brief break from work to clear your mind and stretch your muscles.
Keep a weather-proof container or two filled with gloves, a favorite weeding tool, and pruners in a convenient location near the garden. This ensures that the time available will be spent weeding or deadheading instead of looking for tools.
A bucket with kneeling pads and tools by the door or an old mailbox set in the garden will save time and steps retrieving these items. Use this time to remove spent flowers or cut back perennials in need of a trim. Prune off any dead or damaged twigs above a set of healthy buds when you are out working in your garden.
Use a bypass hand pruner to make clean cuts that leave your plants looking their best. Dig weeds, roots and all.
This task is easiest when the soil is moist and the weeds are small. Eliminating weeds from the garden before they set seed means fewer weeds to pull in the future. Prioritize projects into Must Do, Should Do and Might Do tasks. This is a great way to reduce what seems like an overwhelming project into manageable steps.
The Must Dos ensure your plants will survive. Focus on watering as needed, weed control, and managing plant-threatening pests. Should Dos include mulching, fertilizing and winterizing as needed and can be done after you take care of the Must Dos.
These could wait a year but should be addressed soon. Tackling the Should Do tasks eventually reduces time spent on the Must Do ones. Might Do tasks are those like deadheading and staking that boost beauty but are not critical for the plant’s survival. This is just one way to divide your gardening tasks, but priorities will vary from gardener to gardener based on your desired goals. Some may feel deadheading or staking is critical and add it to the Must Do or Should Do list while others consider it a task to do once the others are complete.
You may decide to replace higher maintenance plants with those that are free flowering, self-supporting and have fewer pest problems. If the Must Do tasks are difficult for you to accomplish, consider asking for help or hiring a professional. Pay for big jobs and those you prefer to skip so you can focus on those you can do and that bring you joy. You’ll be surprised how much you can accomplish in just a few minutes. Plus, tackling your landscape one small task at a time can be less overwhelming and less stressful.
Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including “The Midwest Gardener’s Handbook, Second Edition” and “Small Space Gardening.” She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything” streaming courses and the nationally syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment TV and radio program. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine. Her website is www.MelindaMyers.com.
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