Gardening Made Easy

It's spring, flowers are blooming, bees are buzzing and the sun is out!  So there is a natural urge to plant something.  At least that is how I feel.  I get the desire to plant flowers and garden from my mother and sister who are always in the yard and clearly it rubbed off on me.  I used to do it every year but of course life gets in the way and sometimes you just don't feel like it.  Planting a garden requires dedication and it can be very time-consuming.  Either way, it's very rewarding in the end because you can always say, "I grew that!"

I personally love rose bushes and my favorite variety is the Double Knockout Rose which will give you twice the blooms along with very vibrant colors.   The Hybrid Tea Rose is another favorite and it is one of thee most fragrant flowers I have ever smelled.  Both varieties are very beautiful and heat-resistant as well as being a perennial which means it will return year after year.   

The key to a successful garden are my 10 easy steps below.  Now, let's play in the dirt!​

1. What is the climate in your region:  Before you start your garden, the temperature in your region needs to be consistently above freezing temps.  This will ensure your plants get off to a great start.  For southern states like Georgia, Tennessee, Carolina, etc., it is safe to plant once the temp remains above 50 degrees.   I live in Georgia, so I typically start planting around the end of March.  If you live in a colder region like Indiana, Illinois etc., you will likely start a bit later around May or June when the temp remains above 60 degrees.
2. Deciding what to plant:  Flowers:  Do you want constant blooms throughout Spring and Summer, or do you prefer a plant that blooms only once or twice?  You will also need to decide if you want to plant an annual (plants that typically last one season) or perennial (plants that will return year after year).  Talk to someone at your local nursery, and they will give you a ton of options.  And google isn't too bad either!  Vegetables:  Keep it simple, what do you like to eat?  See how easy that was?  
3. Choosing your plants:  Look for starter plants that are a few inches tall with healthy green stems and flowering buds.  If you are planting something like a rose bush you will find that most nurseries have them in one gallon planters.  You can always choose to plant from seed however you will need to allow for a much longer growing time as you are truly starting from the beginning.  I go with a great starter plant because it's much easier and I get to enjoy my garden sooner verses later.
4. What size pot should you purchase: Since this is gardening made easy I will discuss planting in the ground next time.  Always keep in mind the size of the pot should be at least 2-3 times larger than the original container you purchased the plant in.  The larger the pot, the more space the roots will have to stretch out and give you a nice sized plant.  Note:  Always ensure the pot has adequate drainage, if not you will suffocate the roots of the plant and end up with what's called root rot (disease that attacks the roots of the plant growing in wet soil) and the plant will eventually die.  Most pots will have pre-drilled holes on the bottom that you can just pop out, if not, flip it over and use a small tool to make a few holes for that proper drainage.
5. Buying a good potting mix:  I know what you are thinking.  Dirt is dirt right?  While that is true, let the dirt do the work for you!  Choose a great moisture rich potting mix that will feed your plants every time you water.  My go to every single time is Miracle Gro, it never fails.  If you are interested in an Organic Mix they have that for you as well.  
6. Planting:  Now the real fun begins.  Fill the pots with the potting mix leaving approximately 2-3 inches from the top.  As you get ready to remove the starter plants from the small containers the best method is to dampen the plants first and gently massage the sides of the container to loosen the soil and roots.  Give the plant a gentle tug and it should come out with no problem.  If it's still a little snug just repeat those steps until the plant comes out of the container with ease.  Loosen the root base by gently working around the soil with your fingers.  Dig a hole using your hands or a garden tool where you will place your new plant.  You will gently but firmly press the soil down around the plant filling in any gaps as needed.  The plant should remain at the same soil level as it was in the original container.  Note:  When planting veggies like tomatoes and certain peppers that grow taller I recommend investing in tomato cages or garden stakes.  As the plants start to produce fruit the limbs will get heavy and the plants could tip over.  The cages and stakes will prevent that from happening.    
7. Watering: The first time you water your new plants they will require quite a bit of water.  I can't say it enough, soak your plants, they will love you for it!  I typically water each plant with 2 gallons of water the very first time.  For the next few weeks each time I water I give them a gallon to help establish the root base and to help the plant begin to flourish.  As the plants grow and the season changes you will need to adjust the amount of water, at times more and at times less.  Do a quick finger test to see how dry the soil is.  I don't recommend letting the soil get too dry as you may start to see the plants droop.  Don't worry if this happens, just give them some water, and they will pop back up in no time.
8. Pruning: After a few months your plants have gone from starter plants to several inches tall.  As the plant continues to mature you will lose leaves from time to time and this is very normal.  To keep your plant healthy remove any yellow/brown leaves.  For flowering plants like rose bushes, as the blooms die you will notice most of the petals have fallen off.  Using your trimmers, clip the spent bloom at an angle and be careful not to cut off under a new bloom.  
9. How to spot plant stress or disease: All plants are prone to stress and disease and if you don't catch it early you could lose the entire plant and have to start over.  Aside from a brown leaf here and there, a healthy plant will have bright shiny leaves and plenty of new growth.  If you notice yellow and black spots on the leaves of your plant then most likely you are dealing with some type of fungus.  Neem oil has proven to be effective for me with treating yellow and black spot and there are several organic brands.  Naturally bees and other insects are attracted to vegetables and flowers however if you notice an abundance of insects then it's time to take action.  If you wish to remain pesticide free, try using soap and water.  Using a clean spray bottle mix 1 part dish soap to 10 parts water and spray all leaves of the affected plant to get rid of the little creatures.  A cayenne pepper and water mixture also works wonders!  Keep an eye on your plants and if something looks off, do a little research based on the type of plant and the type of problem you see and you will find tons of topics to help tackle the issue.
10. Prepping for end of season:  The climate in your region will determine the end of your growing season and Mother Nature will let you will know when it's time to cut the flowers back and bring the pots inside if necessary.  For the colder climates, I recommend bringing the pots inside to avoid frost which can affect the root base.  For warmer climates it is perfectly fine to leave the pots stored outside.  Depending on the size of the plant, perennials should be cut down leaving only the stems.  The color of the stems will be dark brown.  You may notice one or two stems that are black and soft, and they should be cut off.  For annuals, you simply cut the plant down as low as possible and remove the entire root base from the pot.  To get under the root base use a hand shovel and dig around the base of the plant to loosen the roots.  This steps saves a lot of time when planting season rolls around next spring.

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​Now that was gardening made easy!  I promise, the more you do it the easier it gets.  Don't be discouraged if the plants didn't do well.  Starter plants range between $1.25 -$5.00 so you haven't lost too much.  Even the most accomplished gardener has a bad season from time to time, and remember, practice makes perfect.

I would love to see pictures of your garden.  Drop me an email; aj@theycalledherjonesy.com
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Happy Gardening!

​~AJ

Hybrid Tea Rose

Banana Peppers

Bell Peppers

Poblanos

Double Knockout Rose

Fresh Picked Veggies