Real Homemaking

Don’t let common challenges ruin your enjoyment in your garden. Here are some easy solutions to successfully combat your biggest gardening issues.

Weeds are taking over my garden
For many gardeners, keeping weeds at bay is the most frustrating and time-consuming chore. Weed gardens thoroughly, then apply a layer of mulch. In perennial gardens, bark mulch is ideal; in vegetable gardens, straw is also a good choice.

I don’t have time to water
Watering by hand is time-consuming and also wastes water an important consideration in regions experiencing drought. Irrigation systems apply water directly to the root zone. They reduce water lost to evaporation and minimize disease problems from wet foliage. Place soaker hoses on the soil surface, then mulch the entire bed with a few inches of shredded bark. Check soil moisture every few days and use soaker hoses to apply water. This may take several hours since the hoses apply water slowly so it seeps in rather than runs off.

Grass won’t grow under my tree
Deep shade combined with a competition for water by tree roots makes it almost impossible to grow grass under large trees. Consider planting a shade-tolerant groundcover, such as ajuga, liriope, ferns or pachysandra. You could also apply a 2-3-inch layer of bark mulch under the tree and add a decorative display of flower-filled containers. Impatiens, caladium and fuchsias are colorful choices that thrive in shade.

I want to enjoy my garden when I get home from work at night
Many of us work all day, only to find the flowers in our gardens have closed or are almost invisible as dusk approaches. Consider planting an ‘evening garden’ filled with fragrant flowers that remain open into the night. Plants with pastel or white flowers appear luminous in the moonlight, including varieties of alyssum, anemone, caladium, climbing hydrangea, evening primrose, evening stock, four-o’clock, foxglove, honeysuckle, moonflower, nicotiana and sweet autumn clematis.

I’m tired of mowing on a steep hillside
Mowing steep hillsides is not only troublesome, it can be dangerous as well. Consider planting a mixture of flowers and other ornamentals and enjoying their beauty from the comfort of your hammock instead. Coneflower, cotoneaster, daylily, hosta, ivy, ornamental grasses, prostrate juniper and salvia are low-maintenance plants. Choose plants that have adapted to your region, as well as the light level and soil type on the hillside. This will encourage fast growth and minimize care.

Critters are eating my plants
There’s only one sure-fire way to keep some animals out of your garden: a sturdy fence. For smaller animals, such as groundhogs and rabbits, the fence should be about three feet tall. Bury the bottom foot of the fence to deter burrowing animals. If deer are the culprits, the fence will need to be six to eight feet tall. A combination of repellents, including sprays, noisemakers, and sprinklers activated by motion detectors will deter most pests. If the animals get used to one deterrent, try switching to another.