The tradition of making New Year's resolutions is as old as dirt, and master gardener Paul James has made many over the years. "Every year I resolve to lose a few pounds, exercise a little more and spend more time playing Frisbee with Maggie." Resolutions are hard to keep, he admits. "This year I've decided to focus on resolutions I'm more likely to keep--gardening resolutions."
Here are his intentions--and you might like to add a few of them to your list of resolutions:
- Spend more time observing the garden rather than working in it. A casual stroll can actually improve the garden by identifying pests and disease problems before they get out of hand. Walking around also provides an opportunity to pick the perfect spot for a new shade tree or select a site for that new compost pile.
- Pay more attention to wildlife by continually providing fresh food, such as seed for birds.
- Keep garden tools clean. Knock the dirt off after using them and give the metal surfaces a light coat of oil. Always put tools back where they belong.
- Keep the yard clean, and that involves taking time to tidy up rather than leaving tools around. It also means picking up stray toys and other objects that kids leave around.
- Take a proactive position in composting. Turn over compost piles once a month and check the moisture content. Those two simple steps will produce twice as much compost as some other methods.
- Do a better job of sharing plants and produce with friends. When a friend or fellow gardener brings a new packet of seeds, some fresh produce or a plant cutting, reciprocate within a few days.
- Read more about gardening from books and magazines. Gardeners cannot get enough good information about gardening.
- Spend more time gardening with children. They love it, and love being with you while you're doing it.
- Recycle more. Although most people already recycle, try to recycle even more by turning as much refuse as possible into compost.
- Remove the tree ring (the mulched area around the base of a tree) that has been in the yard for years. While the tree is young, a tree ring is a good idea, but after two or three years, the grass needs to grow right up to the base of the tree for a more natural look.
And now for Paul James's show resolutions:
- He resolves to keep things wacky, because he likes them that way.
- He'll wear real shoes instead of his trademark sandals when applying chemicals.
- He'll pay more attention to constructive criticism from his executive producer.
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