| It's vital to start the process of | | | | faced with. |
| having a hassle-free garden. This | | | | As you do this preliminary overview, |
| article gives you that first step and | | | | remember it is okay to consider what you |
| helps achieve some sound understanding | | | | "hate" to do in regards to gardening |
| of what you face as a weekend gardener. | | | | work. We want to get rid of these areas |
| Our goal is to create a garden that | | | | first and foremost. |
| practically takes care of itself. | | | | Everyone has a different take on this |
| Unlike my neighbor, Fred. | | | | subject. Some hate mowing the lawn, |
| Fred never found a way to escape the | | | | others actually enjoy the exercise and |
| prison of responsibilities and hard, | | | | like getting out in the sun. Some find |
| never-ending work required by a | | | | weeding tedious, others will enjoy the |
| high-maintenance garden. | | | | process of grabbing weeds by the fistful |
| If you want to avoid Fred's fate, you | | | | and yanking them forcefully out of the |
| need to start by making a critical | | | | ground. I have a cousin who has actually |
| examination of the maintenance of your | | | | been found to wonder into neighbors |
| yard and garden. | | | | yards yanking the critters up (much to |
| Start by taking a stroll around your | | | | the surprise and cheerful appreciation |
| property and make note of how much time | | | | of his neighbors) after he had run out |
| you take to tend to various areas. | | | | of them in his own yard. |
| • Which plants require the most care, | | | | So, part of your 'yard tour' is to make |
| right now? | | | | note of the areas that require work; how |
| • Are there areas that please you and | | | | you feel about each one, and listing |
| take less care? | | | | which are particularly time-consuming. |
| • Are there some areas that you love | | | | Once you're done, take your list and |
| so much that no matter how much | | | | make a check mark (!) next to those |
| maintenance they take you'd not want to | | | | items that you intend to keep no matter |
| change them? | | | | how much maintenance they may require. |
| • Can you visualize any areas being | | | | Then put a question mark (?) Next to the |
| scaled down in size, or that can be | | | | ones you enjoy looking at, but are |
| improved with a low-maintenance design | | | | nonetheless high-maintenance and take |
| or gardening technique? | | | | too much work. Later you will discover |
| • Where is the problem weeding area? | | | | timesaving techniques you can surely |
| • Which is the most difficult mowing | | | | apply to many of these problem areas. |
| area of your lawn? | | | | Now plan on making your aim to eliminate |
| In my book: "The Weekend Gardener"- The | | | | those areas left UNMARKED. You'll want |
| Busy Persons' Guide To A Beautiful | | | | low maintenance ways to turn these areas |
| Backyard Garden, I present very specific | | | | into sources of pleasure, instead of |
| ways to combat your problem areas as you | | | | drudgery. However, you can't DO anything |
| think critically about the current | | | | to lessen the strain until you first SEE |
| maintenance problems you must take into | | | | the problems out there in your yard. So |
| account. Take this tour with a critical | | | | do this tour as a first step to achieve |
| eye and a notebook. Make some notes to | | | | true joy and freedom in your gardening |
| yourself about what you see, what you | | | | experience. |
| imagine, and what you are currently | | | | |