Mar2015_OUTSIDE in your Garden
Keeping up to date
The key to enjoying your garden is to stay in control. With the amount of rain we have been getting since January, both the weeds and grass have vigorously awoken out of their dormancy and are growing quickly. With a similar vigour we need to get into the garden.
Spending short but regular amounts of time in the garden is a real winning recipe.
Planning, and completing, that top priority task will motivate you to return and get on top of things. Focus on only ONE job for the amount of time YOU allocate. This gives you a clear goal and a time to do it in. You’ll be amazed at how effective you become!
For example, the Cobbler’s Pegs which seeded overnight it seems, are your target. Armed with a pair of scissors and a bucket, and an hour of your time, cautiously cut only the seed heads off your weeds. By doing this, you have bought yourself time, removed the worst part of your weeds and you only collected a small amount of green waste.
You’re ready for your next priority. More weeding, spraying?
Obviously, you will need to pull the remainder of the Cobbler’s Pegs out before they reseed. That’s another 1 hour job for your planner. Pull them out after rain or watering. Shake the dirt off the root ball to ensure they dry out and die quickly. And if you leave them on the ground where they drop, they can become nutrient or mulch for your garden. To make the final product look neat, add a small layer of mulch over the top.
Gardening doesn’t have to be a huge task; it can be a small progressive activity. To help with your motivation, it is a good idea to be organised and have a utility area for all your gardening tools and products, and somewhere to prepare everything you need to garden. Have a designated compost area and preferably a pile of mulch ready for the taking.
Planning and acting on a schedule based on family priorities can go a long way to making this activity seem less of a chore and more a time for low level exercise, with little cost but great benefit. These garden activities can also be coordinated with children. They love to help so keep them in the loop.
To reinforce this new plan, it should be discussed with your family members. If it’s written on a chart or weekly planner and put on the fridge, it keeps the idea of regular garden activity present in everyone’s minds.
Further tips to staying ahead:
– Set achievable goals
– Remember: a lot can be done in an hour, just start the job!
– If you don’t finish within your allocated time, don’t worry, you did your allocated time, feel good about it
– Don’t start a new job before the old one is finished!
– Go back to the jobs you’ve completed, to check that you’re still on top
– Have your tools, products and materials ready to go.
– Call a friend! Alternate helping each other out can be a huge motivator.
Using this approach will elevate your sense of satisfaction in the garden and will allow you to stay in control. Go on, get into it! Go OUTSIDE, into the garden!
OUTSIDE garden design
Sabina Menzi,
0417 627 548
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