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Click Here for Great Soil and Compost!

December 26, 2001

Wrapping Up The Holidays...
I certainly hope you had a wonderful Christmas day.  We are finishing up our holiday visit with Kevin's family in Maryland.  They are less than an hour from Washington, DC so this year we all went down to our nation's capital to see the National Christmas Tree.  A combination of good weather and great company made for a great holiday day trip.  The weather here is cold (highs around 35°) but I understand it's even colder in KC.  We'll be back shivering with the rest of you tomorrow.  

Each year we publish a list of New Year's Resolutions for Gardeners.  Last year's resolutions generated a lot of support from our readers and several will be repeated again this year.  Try as we may, we are not perfect and we certainly fell short of some of our own promises.  I hope you'll join us in trying to meet at least a few of this year's resolutions. 

Listed below are our recommended resolutions for 2002.  Let us know what you think!

~ Shelly  

New Year's Resolutions for Gardeners
2002 

  1. Start Something From Seed 
    This can humble any gardener but it is so rewarding to take your little seedlings out into the big garden world and see them thrive. So, use some of your spare time this winter to prepare yourself an indoor planting area and plan on starting some plants from seed! 

  2. Join Us at the Philadelphia Garden Show
    If you've ever wanted to attend a first-class flower and garden show this is the one.  We're big supporters of the local lawn and garden shows but there's really no comparing anything we have in KC to what they do in Philly each year.  Trust us, this is worth it...
     
  3. Start Composting 
    Make this the year that you actually do this.  Kevin and I are composting quite a bit now (but we can always do more).  Composting can be a year-round activity that provides your garden with a super rich amendment.  
       
  4. Install A Drip Irrigation System 
    We still think this was one of our best (and least expensive) investments.  You will be amazed at how much less water you will use and how much more effective your watering will be with a drip irrigation system.  Start small.  Buy a starter kit for a small area of your garden.  They can be bought from most garden centers and many retailers.
     
  5. Plant Something New  
    Among other new plantings in 2001 we successfully planted garlic, a dwarf red maple, and some Boston Ivy to grow against our chimney.  We were less successful with our tomatoes (too little sun) and dwarf hydrangeas (too much sun).  Though we haven't yet chosen this year's experiments you can be sure we will try several more.
     
  6. Devote Part of Your Garden to Kids  
    If you have small children start teaching them the joys (and challenges) of gardening right away.  Get them involved in seed starting this winter.  Set aside a few square feet of garden they can call their own and share their pride as their plantings grow.
     
  7. Challenge Yourself to Garden Through Autumn
    This is a toughie!  We can all relate to that hot, humid weather that we experience in late July and August.  It is difficult to maintain a garden (and your enthusiasm) in extreme conditions but challenge yourself to at least maintain what you have.  Once the weather starts to break you can rejuvenate yourself and your garden with fall plantings.  Don't let the summer heat kill your gardening spirit!
     
  8. Share Divided Perennials with a Neighbor 
    Have you ever ventured out into the garden to find that you have a perennial taking over a large area? Time to divide that baby and share it with a friend or neighbor. Not only is this a great way for you to thin your garden but it is a great way to talk to friends and neighbors about things they are growing and plants that you might want to swap with them. Anyway you look at it it's an opportunity to share a part of you and your garden!
     
  9. Plant Something Where Nothing Has Been Planted Before 
    Is there a nook or corner in your yard or garden that is begging for a shrub or some flowers? Make the most of your landscape.  Try planting in new places; areas that have not been planted before, areas where the grass might not be doing well or there is too much shade or too much sun.  In 2001 we started our new shade garden under the magnolia tree in the front yard.  It's doing much better than the sun starved grass that it replaced.
      Unleash your imagination and be creative.
     
  10. Tell 10 People About Savvygardener.com 
    OK, here is an easy challenge!  Kevin and I would like everyone of our readers (over 3,100 of you) to tell someone you know about Savvygardener.com!  We are very thankful for all the new subscribers that have been referred by our readers but there are still some area gardeners that haven't found us yet. Give them a nudge.  Here's an easy way to do it...

 

 

 

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