Seven habits to make you the best gardener

October 1, 12:44 PMGardening ExaminerRobin Ripley

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Great gardeners aren’t born—they’re developed slowly over time. For the lucky among us, the process starts at the knees of a parent or grandparent, sowing seeds and discovering the joy of eating peas fresh from the vine. Others come later to realizing the true nature of our green thumbs and must glean our knowledge from books, classes and the rare worthy television show.

But sooner or later, the best gardeners develop habits that set them above the average weekend mow-and-blow warrior. Just as good study habits increase the chances of good grades, these habits increase our chances of success in the garden.

Regardless of when you decided to pick up a trowel and head out into the wilds of your back yard, it’s never too late to develop good habits that will pay dividends in abundant fruits, vegetables and herbs, vibrant flowers and an oasis of loveliness right outside your back door.

Here are seven habits to develop to be the best gardener you can be.

1 - Train your eye to recognize good garden design. There are whole degree programs at horticultural schools that teach this, but you can learn a good deal on your own by slowing down and learning to observe the gardens and landscaping you encounter on a daily basis at office buildings, public parks and on neighborhood walks. Supplement your first-hand observations by browsing through gardening magazines and books. You can even go a step further and make a notebook of the designs you particularly like by tearing out magazine pages, inserting them into plastic sleeves and organizing them into a three-ring binder by categories that are meaningful to you—knot gardens, rose gardens, herb borders, container arrangements, etc.

2 - Put the right plant in the right place. Read the tags and/or research online to make sure the plants you buy or inherit go where they have the best chance of thriving. Similarly, make sure the plants you put into your garden are appropriate for the location and won’t outgrow the space or create problems by spreading where you want something more contained. You’ll save yourself time and money ripping out plants from inappropriate locations and also give plants what they need to thrive.

3 - Make lists and keep records. Lists are essential when shopping so that you don’t forget to buy needed items at the nursery in your enthusiasm to grab the last of the pink zinnias. Keep a running list of garden chores by month as well, making time for long-term projects and maintenance. Keep records of the plants that you buy, including their Latin names, so that you can check reference sources for information when it’s time to divide or if the plant isn’t thriving.

4 - Lean on your friends for help and advice. Despite all the good websites, books and magazines on the market, there is nothing like developing a circle of gardening friends for feedback, ideas and support. The first-hand knowledge of other gardeners, unfiltered by an editor and culled down by word count limits, can be your best reality check. A circle of gardeners is also a blessing when you want to celebrate the joy of your first tomato and your non-gardening friends and family thinks you’re a bit cuckoo. If the garden club scene isn’t your cup of tea, there are many online resources where lively conversations among like-minded gardeners are going on. Try Plurk, Twitter or explore Blotanical to find garden blogs near you.

5 - Make compost and use it generously. There is a reason gardeners call compost black gold. That’s because the nutrients in well-made compost are the best thing you can give plants at any stage of their development. Build a compost bin (or several!). Make a habit of composting yard clippings, raked leaves, old plants, kitchen scraps and other compostable materials. Then spread the black gold around like a fairy godmother sprinkling blessings. You’ll see the benefits in no time.

6 - Weed early and weed often. Ten minutes a day spent plucking out the tiny sprouts of weeds is better than an hour spent doing heavy digging to remove entrenched weeds on the weekend. As weeds grow, they are fruitful and multiply, some capable of sending billions of little offspring into the air to torture you another day. Kill them and kill them early and often.

7 – Be gentle with yourself and take time to enjoy your garden. Last time I checked there were no gardening events in the Olympics. So unless you’re competing to be on the cover of one of those slick magazines, remember that gardening is about creating beauty and enjoying the process. Slow down. Make sure you have chairs and benches positioned in strategic locations to encourage lingering. Take time to give thanks for what you have and what you have created.