10 SIMPLE STEPS TO A BETTER GARDEN

The 10 basic tenets of the SMARTGARDEN™ program are principles that apply to all of us as responsible stewards of the earth. Listed beneath each tenet are several examples of specific practices. Depending on your region’s climate and your individual garden site, some of the examples will apply to your gardening situation, others will not. You are probably already following some of these practices on a routine basis, but others may be new to you.

1.  Work with nature whenever possible.
    
   1.  Avoid impulse buying--select plants that are well adapted to your site, including natives
   2.  Select plants that are resistant to pests and diseases common in your region
   3.  Avoid plants known to be invasive in the garden or in the wild
   4. compost yard and kitchen wastes and use the compost in your garden
   5. encourage natural predators of problematic pests
   6. rotate annual plants, especially vegetables, to reduce incidence of disease
   7.  practice sanitation--dispose of plant parts that may harbor disease and/or insects
       
2. Assess your site thoroughly.
    
   1. test your soil for pH, nutrient content, and beneficial soil organisms
   2. test your soil drainage
   3. determine your USDA hardiness and AHS heat zones
   4. know which areas of your yard represent microclimates
   5. identify areas of your garden in terms of light exposure: sun/part sun/shade
       
3. Assess yourself and your lifestyle
    
   1. time available for gardening
   2. what you want to grow
   3. physical benefits and limitations
   4. financial limitations
   5. willingness to try new ideas
       
4. When adapting natural conditions to create a garden for plants that may not be suitable for your site as it exists, consider optimum location and all modifications necessary for the garden prior to planting.
    
   1. adjust soil pH slightly, if necessary
   2. improve soil fertility and structure by regularly integrating organic matter
   3. site the garden according to available sun/shade, water supply, exposure
   4.  
5. Learn specifics about your plants so that you can provide them with appropriate care now—and later
    
   1. plant at proper depth
   2. provide required nutrients and water
   3. prune appropriately and at the proper time
   4. provide support for plants that need it
   5. transplant or divide plants when necessary
       
6. Look at your plants regularly, make notes to help plan future gardening efforts and avoid repeating mistakes.
    
   1. keep track of plant names including cultivars
   2. be aware of planting, flowering, fruiting dates
   3. record dates of fertilization, incidences of pest problems, and pesticide applications
   4. make end-of-season notes about annual and vegetable varieties you want to grow again, as well as those you don’t
   5. mark the location of perennials that are late to start growth in spring
       
7. Conserve water
    
   1. water early in the morning or use drip irrigation
   2. water deeply, not daily
   3. apply mulch to reduce evaporation and soil crusting
   4. collect water from downspouts for use in garden
   5. provide extra water to newly planted areas until established
       
8. Use all available resources
    
   1. consult authoritative periodicals and books (like the AHS SMARTGARDEN Regional Guides).
   2. research pertinent Web-sites
   3. talk to local gardening professionals at botanical gardens or garden centers
   4. share information with other gardeners through garden clubs or garden chat groups
       
9. Consider each gardening practice in terms of environmental impact
    
   1. monitor pests to determine when control is necessary
   2. use the least toxic products to control pests
   3. remove pests by hand or with hard sprays of water
   4. encourage natural predators and beneficial microorganisms
   5. avoid unnecessary use of power tools to reduce emissions and noise pollution
       
10. Above all, have fun!
     
    1. The goal of the SMARTGARDEN™ program is to make gardening easier and more successful. If you find you are not having fun with your current garden, analyze why it is not fulfilling. It may be that you are making things hard on yourself by trying to create something complex when you have very little free time. Consider trying a new design or growing different kinds of plants. Maybe you find gardening too solitary an activity, in which case try joining a community garden or volunteer at a local botanical garden.

Copies of the four AHS Regional SMARTGARDEN™ Guides (Northeast/Southeast/Northwest/Southwest editions) can be ordered in the Garden Marketplace, along with many other authoritative gardening resources published by the AHS.

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