| Plant a Low Maintenance Garden | | | | 4. Perennial Debate |
| This year why not plant a low maintenance garden. It | | | | When choosing your plants decide whether you want |
| will not only satisfy your Spring fever urges but will | | | | long lasting flowering plants, or plants that will come |
| also add beauty and value to your home. | | | | up each year. Both have their benefits and draw |
| 1. Plan | | | | backs. If your tastes change yearly or if you're |
| You can save time and energy if you start with a | | | | planting a decorative bed you might choose annuals |
| basic plan. Look around your yard and determine a | | | | so you can plant something different each year. If |
| good spot for a garden. If you're not an expert | | | | you want to 'plant it and forget it' choose perennials |
| gardener start by picking a relatively small area. Take | | | | which will come back each season. Or, choose a |
| the time to draw the area on paper in the shape you | | | | combination for the best of both worlds! |
| want and determine the heights for the plants you | | | | 5. No Time for Weeding? |
| will be choosing. This will give you a visual of how | | | | When preparing the bed for the garden turn the soil |
| your idea will look. It's much easier to change the plan | | | | approximately 2 shovels deep, remove the sod and |
| on paper than it is after you've planted several plants. | | | | weeds, and add compost if needed to enrich the soil. |
| 2. Note the Conditions | | | | Use a landscaping fabric to keep weeds from |
| Before your trip to the nursery, it's wise to check | | | | growing up around your plants and mulch heavily. This |
| out a few things first. Note whether your chosen | | | | will keep you from spending long hours on your |
| area is in full sun, part sun, or shade. Also, check the | | | | hands and knees weeding when you could be |
| condition of your soil so you can choose plants that | | | | enjoying other things - like sipping a cold glass of iced |
| will thrive in the type of soil you have. Check to see | | | | tea and looking at your beautiful garden! |
| if the drainage is good and if your soil is sandy, etc. If | | | | 6. Water, Water, Water |
| you're unsure take a sample with you to the nursery | | | | Water at least every other day for the first two |
| and have them check it for you. They can help you | | | | weeks then twice weekly for the remainder of the |
| select the right plants. | | | | first season. The following year you can slack off a |
| 3. Pick your Plants | | | | bit and let nature do the rest. Watch for dry spells, |
| There's no hard and fast rule for this other than | | | | and supplement with deep watering when this occurs. |
| choosing plants suited for the conditions where they | | | | 7. Enjoy! |
| will be planted. For a low maintenance garden, it's | | | | By planting a low maintenance garden you not only |
| best to choose plants that are native to your area. | | | | satisfied your Spring fever urges, but you've |
| But most importantly, choose what you like, and | | | | beautified your home and potentially increased it's |
| choose the colors and size you prefer. | | | | value! |