Verdant View - August 2024 - El Ojo del Lago

Success In The Garden

I often ask myself, “What does a successful garden look like?” I also ask, “What is a successful garden and what can I do to have one?”

The answers are as varied as the number of gardeners on this stunning planet. For some it might be a rewilding of their spaces to restore an area of land to its natural uncultivated state with the reintroduction of native plants, trees, wild animal species that have been driven out or exterminated, then letting nature take over helping natural processes to occur freely. The intention is one of repairing damaged ecosystems, large or small. Rewilding can also be a way of thinking about our place in the web of life and is offered increasingly as a form of green therapy (Kendra Wilson.) Success in the garden may be a vision of a very manicured green area similar to the gardens at Versailles, France but perhaps not so grand in scale. Or a garden could be considered a success when it provides happiness, learning and peace.

For my mother Rebecca, her garden was a place of peace and joy, beauty and sustenance. It was the place she would head out to at the start of the day. She would visit her flowers and fruit trees, then forage for breakfast.

My garden is limited in scope, as I do not have much soil area and I garden largely in pots. Like my mother, my garden is my first stop every morning after rolling out of bed. I visit my plants, check on their growth and health, make notes of things that may need to be done during the day such as watering or natural pest control. What my garden returns to me is a deep sense of connection with the living earth, peace of mind and soul, a day’s first smile or laugh. What could be better for me? Nada.

The first question I ask a new client is “What do you want your garden to look like?”

This question is followed by “What is the purpose of your garden?” Usually, the answers to these 2 questions guide the development or changes to a new or an existing garden.

This month we are well into our rainy season. This is an excellent time to ask yourselves the two aforementioned questions. The answers may guide you on an introspective and creative garden path.

What to plant in August

It is still warm and rainy during this month. The viveros have marigolds, Zinnias, Cosmos, sunflowers, Phlox, Cleome and Kniphofia (red hot poker), as well as other treasures such as Cyclamen and Penta. You can still plant the hot weather veggies as it won’t be cold until late October and most take 60 to 90 days to mature. You can plant artichokes, both Globe and Jerusalem anytime from July to November. Do plant Celosia, snapdragon, Phlox, Petunia and stock seeds now. Also, Gloriosa lily, which is easy to grow and is an exotic, climbing lily-type flower. Last chance to prune your poinsettias for Christmas bloom. Keep up with weeds, fertilizer, pest control and deadheading. Cut back your herbs. They’ll just keep growing. Freeze or dry what herbs you don’t immediately use. Think of seeds you will be starting in September. Your gardening friends are excellent sources of seeds and cuttings. The garden pests are out in full force. Keep an eye out for them and deal with problems at once, before they get out of hand.

What to do in your garden in August

When you plan the layout of your fall and winter gardens, consider which new crops should follow those just removed. Follow heavy feeders with light feeders, and vice versa. Heavy feeders include beets, broccoli, cabbage, celery, collards, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, endive, escarole, kale, kohlrabi, lettuce, okra, parsley, pumpkins, radishes, rhubarb, spinach, squash, and tomatoes. Light feeders include carrots, chard, garlic, leeks, mustard, onions, parsnips, peppers, potatoes, rutabaga, shallots, sweet potatoes, and turnips.

Some vegetables are more tolerant of salty areas in the garden. If an area has received repeated applications of manure or other concentrated fertilizers, the salt content may be high. Asparagus, beets, kale, and spinach do well under these conditions, but celery, green beans, radishes, strawberries and most fruits cannot tolerate it. Other vegetables and cantaloupes, figs, and grapes are generally of medium tolerance.

Encourage longer blooming periods by removing mature flowers and seed pods of Coreopsis, Cosmos, Gaillardia, marigold and Zinnia.

If you’re not going to have a winter garden, cover crops are an excellent alternative; choices include alfalfa, soybeans, fava beans, winter rye, and winter wheat. Till them in next spring two or three weeks before planting as “green manure” to give it time to decompose and not “burn” seeds or delicate seedling roots.

When planning several hours of work in the garden, take along a lightweight chair and a thermos with some cool liquid refreshment. Enjoy a periodic rest and appraisal of your efforts.

My garden group has found that watering your trees deeply instead of regular topical watering is more effective. Better tree growth and less watering time and energy are the benefits.