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