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| Photo Credit: Platinum Pictures |
| Mulch is one of the best ways to cut down on weeding and watering time in your garden. | With three kids and a full-time job (and then some), my gardening time is precious to me. It’s a treat to escape the hurly-burly of my life and go out in the yard for a bit, dig in the dirt, enjoy my flowers or pick some produce for dinner. So I like to use my limited time in my garden well and get a lot done. Sure, sometimes I like to go out and just aimlessly putter, but most of the time I’m a woman on a mission! If your gardening story sounds similar, here are some of my favorite time-saving tips you can use to help get more done in your own gardens – in less time: - Keep a quickie garden kit at the ready. By my back door, I have a beautiful trug basket I got as a Mother’s Day present. I keep gloves, hand shears, my favorite weeding tool and a few other essentials inside, right next to my garden shoes. (Of course, you don’t need a trug – you can use a bucket, bag or any other sturdy container.) So when I do have a little time to garden, I just grab it and go – no time wasted assembling what I need.
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| Photo Credit: Chris Lofty |
| Organize your garden tools in one spot so you’ll have more time to putter in the garden. | - Keep your tools organized and in good working order. Nothing slows you down – or is more discouraging – than tools and supplies that you can’t find or that are a mess. This is a great chore to tackle in early spring when you’re itching to get out in the garden.
- Invest in a garden apron. Half the time I don’t feel I can garden without changing my clothes. But an apron lets me get out there and do some dirty work without messing up the nice clothes I might be wearing from the office or a meeting.
- Keep a garden journal – and it doesn’t have to be a fancy one. Even if it’s just your kid’s old spiral notebook, it’ll work as a good central spot to collect all your garden information: a few notes here and there on your garden, seed packets, the full name of all your plants (and maybe some photos), an envelope to hold receipts (in case you need any refunds) and a list of what blooms when. This is also a great place to keep any helpful articles you’d like to have on reference.
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| Facts |
- Mulch is a great time-saver: It suppresses weeds, cuts down on many diseases and conserves moisture. Also, if it’s biodegradable (like bark mulch), it’ll feed the soil as it breaks down. (As a general rule, mulch to a depth of 1-3 inches.)
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| Tips |
- If you love flower gardens, try to shy away from annuals – they can be very time-consuming. Perennials take less time to grow in the long run because you don’t have to plant them every year. (Flowering shrubs can be even better.)
- Just like you make out your grocery list, make out a list of garden supplies before you go shopping – and keep that list by your garage or garden shed wall. You’ll be amazed at how much less time you’ll spend going back and forth to the garden center – and you’ll likely save some money, too!
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| Faqs |
- Q: Do pre-emergent herbicides really save weeding time?
A: Yes, pre-emergent herbicides – those that kill or prevent seeds from germinating before they emerge (hence the name) – are very effective. Apply in early spring, when the bright yellow forsythia is blooming (about the time the daffodils bloom). Carefully read and follow all package directions exactly.
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| Tools |
- Invest in power tools. A hedge clipper, edger, small chain saw and others are all excellent time-savers. Electric tools tend to be lightweight, as well as easy to use and maintain. Even better: They’re less expensive than gas-powered tools and are earth-friendly. An electric hedge trimmer has a bonus use: It’s a great tool for cutting back perennials once they’re dry and woody.
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