-Garden Journaling

Planning Ahead for Garden Success

Where do I start with sharing the many benefits of planning the gardening year? I'm not necessarily thinking about planning a specific bed, which also is a good idea, but more about marking the calendar for when specific tasks should be done throughout the year. The real benefit of this is that time just keeps on going, and before I know it, its winter time… again. This is the reminder I need to try to keep on track doing garden chores and projects.

Now is a time to read/research when the best time is to do certain tasks and chores in the garden. Chores such as: when to mulch, prune, seed the lawn, plant a summer garden, tree or bulbs, start seeds, and so much more. If you or someone you love is a lawn ranger, now is a great time to take that leap from chemical dependence to organic. It is totally true that it is easier, healthier and more economical to give-up chemicals that you continually need to apply. ( Grow Organic is the best book for holding your hand and walking you through the valley on this.) How about pruning? Do you know when and if to prune your Crepe Myrtles or hydrangeas? Don't have the right book or just want a quick answer? Google it.

To get started make a list of all the chores you routinely do each year, then add all those things you always wanted to do, but never got to thembecause time got away from you. Then add a couple things that you learn during the get smart months this year that inspire and intrigue you!

Now spend a few minutes on each listed task and beef-up your knowledge on improved ways of doing old chores and learn what to do with new tasks. Having trouble finding information? Submit your question to Ask Lisa on our website. Chances are really good that you are not the only one wondering about that!

Once your list is done, pencil it in on your calendar. This year I am changing from my old desktop calendar to a larger journal book method, because I am no longer the only one looking at this calendar. We now have others very involved in each step of gardening here. It is more important now than ever to have schedules of: soil prep, seed starting, planting, mulching, harvesting and feeding.

The first year of doing a calendar is the toughest. But after you begin one, it gets easier each year. Keep your calendar in a visible spot that you frequent. I think the best calendar spot I've ever heard from a customer wasin the bathroom, on the wall across from you know what!

Throughout the year, add tasks you have forgotten. Don't over do it, this calendar is intended to help you, not burden you. Be realistic, but challenging if that is in your nature.

Plan for Success!

Lisa

Garden Journaling Tips

The Garden Journal that I wrote and published is based on my years of gardening experience and
frustration of not being able to find a journal that was useable for someone that really worked in their garden and wanted to keep track of certain
things.

As a calendar tells you when to do something, a journal is where you write it once you have done it. There are no words to describe the landscape or garden or lawn like a photo does. Photographing in the four seasons is priceless when looking back or trying to plan ahead, (another great thing to put on the calendar).

The Garden Journal is a smorgasbord of tips and ideas I have gathered. You should add your own as you garden along. After all, each persons
journal is unique. The most functional part of my journal is that it is in a 3-ring binder. This
allows for changing things around (I do this all the time) and customizing your journal or just updating from year to year.

A great tip for yearly updating is to have a second binder with page dividers. Transfer last years journaling and photo pages to this Yearly Journal and divide by the year. This is a great place to put
last years calendar also. This will make room for the current year in your Garden Journal.

A Garden Journal is so much more than a reference tool. It is a gift to be left to those that follow you. A loved one equipped with a garden
journey of a past family member is a gift few ever have the benefit of receiving. During the time I was first exploring the gardens here at our family homestead 15 years ago, I found bits and pieces of garden notes that Steve’s Grandfather
had written and tacked to the shed wall. This is how I learned that we should plant bush sweet
peas in February.

How I would love to have a journal on how he spent his lifetime building the soil and garden in this place.
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Enjoy–Lisa Z