COMMON SENSE
In 1776, Thomas Paine wrote Common Sense, a pamphlet that addressed ordinary people and urged them to embrace the cause of freedom from England. As I scan the Internet gardening sites, chat rooms and blogs, I feel the need for a horticultural Tom Paine to urge ordinary gardeners to re-embrace common sense.
The information revolution has left us awash in all kinds of gardening advice, and a certain amount of online cud chewing takes place daily as concepts, ideas and lore are masticated many times by many writers. As we struggle to navigate through it, it’s easy to forget that most garden wisdom is simply common sense. Our parents, grandparents and great-grandparents grew fragrant roses, succulent tomatoes and majestic oak trees without the help of Google. We can too. The following are some of the most frequently asked garden questions, and the common sense answers.
Q: What’s the best time to plant flowers, herbs, trees, shrubs, grass and anything else that grows?
A: Plants are living organisms and, like all other living organisms except native New Yorkers, they do better in low stress situations. Therefore, the best time to plant just about anything is when the stress on the plant will be relatively low. That generally means any time the soil is warm and workable, the temperature is moderate and moisture is readily available. Where I live that means early to mid spring and mid fall. If you can’t plant or transplant at the best time of year, do it at the best time of the day–relatively early in the morning or late in the afternoon.
Q: What’s the best time to water plants, trees, etc.?
A: Water when plants need the moisture. Well-mulched outdoor plants shouldn’t need much supplemental water, except in times of drought. Container plants need water when the soil surface is dry. Water early in the morning, if you can–more water gets to the roots that way and less evaporates. Water new plants daily until they are established. Do not water or run your sprinkler system when it is raining.
Q: How do I attract desirable creatures like songbirds, butterflies, hummingbirds and pollinators to my garden?
A: Plant a wide variety of flowers, trees and shrubs. Provide a water source, even if it’s a birdbath, and garden as organically as possible. Remember that the stuff you use to rid the roses of Japanese beetles deprives the blue jays of crunchy snacks. When the ecosystem is balanced, the creatures that you want will help dispose of the creatures that you don’t want.
Q: How do I keep varmints like deer, rabbits and groundhogs out of my garden?
A: Use predators, barriers or repellants. If you have cats or dogs that are allowed to roam in the yard, their scent may deter some creatures. To deter rabbits, install fencing made of wire mesh or hardware cloth. The barrier should be two feet tall and go down at least one foot into the ground. Deer fencing, which is the best way to repel deer, should be at least eight feet tall. Most creatures can also be deterred–at least temporarily–by the various repellants on the market. Try to find the one that is environmentally friendly and remember that most need to be reapplied after it rains. You can also grow plants like daffodils, alliums, foxgloves, aconitum and yew that are either toxic or bad tasting.
Q: My flowers, trees, shrubs, etc. are sick or dying. What is the problem?
A: Some were probably unhealthy when you bought them. Others may be afflicted with pests or diseases. If you think a plant is diseased, cut off the affected parts and destroy them. Sometimes this will save it. Make sure that you have planted sun lovers in the sun and shade plants in the shade. If you find evidence of pests on either the leaves or roots, try to figure out whether the problem is affecting only one plant or many. If it is only one plant, removing the plant will probably prevent further trouble. If a whole area of the garden is affected, call your county extension agent and ask for his or her advice.
Q: What’s the best way to eliminate weeds without using herbicides?
A: Hand pull or hoe them out if you find that relaxing. Keep entire areas weed-free by smothering the weeds with either landscape fabric or layers of newspaper covered by mulch. Kill weeds in cracks with either boiling water or a spray of undiluted vinegar. A string trimmer also makes short work of weeds growing out of sidewalk or pavement cracks.
Q: What are the easiest plants for beginners?
A: Absolutely anyone can grow tomatoes, sunflowers, zinnias and Rose of Sharon.
Q: I want to garden but don’t have much time. What should I do?
A: Cultivate only the amount of space or number of plants that you can handle. If you have fifteen minutes a week, stick to a couple of pots or a small garden bed. But be forewarned, gardening can be addictive. If you catch the gardening bug you will find that fifteen minutes a week becomes fifteen minutes a day. . Don’t worry. Common sense dictates that something so satisfying will probably change your priorities and might even change your life.