Can you believe fall is almost upon us? After a very rainy start to the summer, followed by a month of not-so-hot late summer dryness, we are on the downhill stretch to autumn. In the North, the biggest thing they have to look forward to now is fall foliage, followed by seven months of fighting off maladies like snow-blindness and frostbite, and funny accents. But, here in good ‘ol Central Texas, we are blessed with what is, essentially, a “second spring”. August to November are recovery months for many thirsty and heat-hammered plants coming out of summer, as well as show time for some of our most beautiful late-season bloomers. Sadly, though, many Central Texas gardeners don’t always recover as readily as their gardens, and tend to throw their hands up in sun-baked frustration until the following spring. Why do we do this? Here we are perched on a sweet little climatic island, sandwiched between hot, dry summer and cold, wet winter, and we’re blowing it! What’s missing?
I’ll tell you what’s missing: inspiration, the gardener’s best friend. See, every spring, after a long, restful and cabin-fever ridden winter, we jump out into spring’s splendor ready to create, heads-full of flowery visions, trowels in hand. But fall is different, VERY different. By the time summer blows her last furnace breath, we are emotionally beaten and creatively crushed. So, how do we get our horticultural Mojo back? Read on, gardeners, read on.
Matt’s Five Easy Mojo-Grabbing Steps to Happy Fall Gardening
1. Big gifts come in small spaces. Pick an area, no matter how small, that you see often, and make it pretty. It could be the little flower bed around the mailbox that you pass by every day or a terra cotta pot on the back porch that you put your cigarettes out in. Focus on this area, build a little dream around this area, and then follow through, completely ignoring the rest of the yard. If it helps, create a rule that no other area of the garden can be touched or even thought about until that one space is perfect. You will be surprised at how much more creative satisfaction you’ll feel from a small thing done right than from an entire garden done halfway.
2. Out with the old… A wise person once said “We don’t see things as they are, we see things as we are”. Don’t let compassion for last spring’s wilted, bug-eaten plants get in the way of your creative spirit! Look at your yard as if it were someone else’s and be just as critical. Pull out any plants whose season has passed, and don’t be afraid to ax those that have suffered from fiery summer neglect. This “cleaning of the canvas” will do wonders for your ability to envision new plantings.
3. …in with the BOLD! As you stroll through the garden center looking for elements that will fulfill your vision, go for drama. Generally, the smaller the space, the bolder the plants. Pass over mild-mannered mallows and subtle salvias for screaming sweet potato vines and funky fountain grass. Contrast colors and textures, and use the old florist’s rule of flower arrangement: Spiky (grasses, bulbs, yuccas), round (ligularia, rice paper plant, turk’s cap), frilly (ferns, batchelor’s buttons,’Diamond Frost’ euphorbia), and dangly (sedum, ‘Marguerite’ sweet potato, vinca).
4. Obsess, obsess, obsess. “The most important elements to a garden’s success? Footprints on the garden path.” A healthy dose of obsession in your new little patch of heaven won’t hurt a bit. Daily maintenance, regular fertilizing and pest control, and the occasional daydream not only insures thriving success, but also cultivates an appreciation and love of the plants that will carry into the rest of the garden.
5. Create. Enjoy. Repeat. The fine art of enjoying is quickly getting lost in our rat-race culture. It’s a vital skill that requires practice, so start now. Wake up 30 minutes earlier than normal and step outside to revel in your creation. Make enjoying your garden a daily part of the gardening process, and you’ll find previously torturous tasks like weeding, pruning, fertilizing and watering can be fun. Yes, I said fun!
Come on, gardeners, can it be any easier than that? Start small, be bold, and have fun!
Matt
