Gardening resolutions: Enjoy more, stress less

By Marilyn McKinley

OSU Extension master gardener volunteer

I am proud to say I come from a long line of gardeners and farmers. I have learned a lot and I am still learning.

I think being a gardener means one has to be curious, always seeking to learn, always searching for the newest and the best.

But don’t we do this because it’s our passion?

Some do it for the food they can produce, some for the sheer beauty of the bounties of nature.

Here are some things I have learned:

Make a plan. Even if it eventually falls apart, make one. Think about your goals, your needs, what you can financially and, more importantly, physically afford. Gardeners always think big and want more. Try to be realistic. Think in these terms: if this were someone else’s garden I was taking care of, what would I do? Think in terms of things that require less water, less care and allow you to enjoy the garden more through the growing season.

Don’t sweat the small stuff. This is supposed to be fun. Stuff happens, things will not always go as planned, weeds will come and the amount of rain will be too much or too little. On the one day of the week you are free to do garden work it will rain or you will have a headache. Your garden will be there tomorrow. Don’t be so uptight. Put plan B into action or just mulch the “problem area” to put a better plan in place next year.

Make lemonade. So what if only three radishes came up. Know that you can replant quickly and still get production from the garden. So what if the tray of red impatiens turns out to be pink. They are still quite lovely and can be enjoyed by you and others who visit your house and garden.

Learn from mistakes and don’t let them linger. It happens and it may not have been your fault. Try to learn what happened, get rid of the plant and move on. Each year I purchase at least one thing that doesn’t work out.

Wildlife is part of the gardening experience. Animals will come. Animals will destroy. I have come to wonder if humans may well be at the bottom of the list and everything has evolved to be smarter than us. Try resistant plants, moving edibles to containers or take a class to get a better understanding of wildlife and control options.

Weeds will come. They are survivors. No matter what you do, weeds will always be a part of your garden. Just try to keep them at bay early on with newspaper mulch, bark mulch or light tilling. Don’t wait till August to deal with them. Do your best, but don’t obsess. If all else fails, call it a wildlife refuge.

Take baby steps. This may be the hardest thing. It is for me. I want it now, some of these, a few of those, a great tool.

Deep breath, now relax and enjoy.

This winter, take some time to learn at some of our OSU Extension classes and events. Stop by Fellows Riverside Gardens to see what is happening there. What you learn will save you time and help you enjoy the fruits of your efforts throughout the year.