Quick & Easy
Gardening Tips
By Stephanie Tallman Smith
Photo: © Isabel Poulin / Dreamstime
 Want a beautiful garden but think you don't have the time? These quick and easy landscape tricks will improve the look of your garden in as little as five minutes a day.
Water Your Plants - The number one reason gardens look drab or scraggly is because they don't get enough water. Your plants are virtually dying of thirst. Establish a watering schedule and post it in a conspicuous place, such as on the refrigerator or in the laundry room. Most people simply forget the last time they watered and by the time they realize it has been over a week, their petunias are wilted and their roses brown around the edges. Establish a schedule and keep to it. You will see your plants perk up in no time.
Deadhead Spent Blooms - To deadhead means to pinch the flowers off just below the bloom once they have completely bloomed. In addition to making the garden look fresher by removing the dead blooms, it relieves the plant's system of trying to provide nutrients to dead tissue, freeing up more energy for the next cycle of flowers. Depending on the size of your garden, spending just five minutes a day deadheading will quickly transform your landscape from weary to wonderful.
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Pull a Few Weeds - Never a fun prospect but keeping up on the weeds in your garden will prevent it from being overrun with predatory plants that choke flowers and consume the soil's nutrients. The best time to start pulling weeds is immediately after the first one appears. Think you don't have the time? Pulling weeds is great exercise so consider trading your morning workout one day a week for working in the garden. The constant bending and straightening is great for your abs, obliques and calves. If you are truly pressed for time, consider working on the weeds while making that important phone call. Spend five minutes talking to your child's little league coach while pulling a few weeds at the same time.
Change Your Color Spots Regularly - Everyone has a few areas of their garden that need replanting. Maybe it's that corner by the driveway that has heavy traffic. Or maybe it's that spot underneath the eaves that doesn't get as much sun as you would like. Wherever it is, make a date with yourself to spend five minutes replanting with annual color on a seasonal basis. Annual color spots are flowers that bloom on an annual basis and may only last for one season, unlike perennials that come back year after year. Examples of annual color include begonia, petunia, sweet pea and marigold. Usually sold in six packs, these plants are easy to plant for instant garden beauty.
Maintaining a beautiful garden doesn't have to consume all your free time. By spending as little as five minutes a day on these simple tasks you will be amazed at how quickly your garden becomes a source of pride and enjoyment once again |
