Gardening 101

Hello again,

Skillin's is holding a Gardening 101 class this Saturday at 10 AM and 2 PM at the Brunswick, Cumberland and Falmouth locations. Drop us a note at skillins@maine.rr.com if you would like to register for the class! What follows is KCB's outline for the class:

Whether a seasoned gardener, just beginning or somewhere in between, it is best to have a strategy before you begin. With some forethought it could save money and pain, both physical and emotional, down the road.


1. Plan before you plant

2. Prepare before you plant

3. What you need

4. What plants need

5. Right Plant, Right Place

PLAN BEFORE YOU PLANT

1. THINK about how you wish to use your out-of-doors space:

 Recreation

 Relaxing & Reflecting

 Dining& Entertaining

 Theme Gardens

o Bird & Butterfly Magnet

o Culinary

o Mixed Border

o Moon

 All of the above

o Separate areas creating ‘rooms’

2. IMAGINE the garden beds and landscape you want to create

 Plants

 Colors

 Visualize a palette that you find attractive and not specific plants.

 Foliage!!!

 Textures

 Foliage

 Lacy

 Succulent

 Spiky

 Broadleaf

3. BUDGET

 For Materials & Maintenance

4. MAINTENANCE

 Initial installation and on going

 Low Maintenance doesn’t mean NO maintenance

PREPARE BEFORE YOU PLANT

1 Know your property

 Walk you property

o Check

 Topography

 Wind intensity

 Drainage

 Water Source

 Micro-climates

 Sunlight

• Time of day and duration

 Wildlife

 Known Pests

2. Know your soil

o TEST SOIL

 pH = soil acidity or alkalinity

• 7 is Neutral

o < = Acid (“sour”)

 Add lime to decrease (increase pH)

 Wood Ash

o > = Alkaline (“sweet”)

 Add aluminum sulfate (decrease pH)

 Sulfur

 Levels of Nutrients (only 3 are listed

• Nitrogen (N) 1st # on plant food/fertilizer bag

o promotes foliage over-all growth in lushness and color

• Phosphorus (P) 2nd # on plant food/fertilizer

o Promotes flowering (blooms) & Fruit development

o Promotes strong roots

• Potassium (K) 3rd #

o Promotes over-all health, strength and size of plant

3. Know your self

a. “Warming up before gardening is just as important as warming up before a vigorous workout. After warming up, stretching exercises for the major muscle groups that will be involved in performing the task can reduce the risk of injury.” The American Society of Hand Therapists ASHT®

b. Your schedule; how much time you really want to commit to your garden.


WHAT YOU NEED!

APPROPRIATE TOOLS-sharpened and in good working order.

1. Tools for digging and/or planting

 Trowel

 Spade

 Digging/Pitch Fork

2. Tools for Pruning/Cutting

 Hand pruners

 Loppers

 Saws

• pruning

• bow

3. Tools for Weeding

 Garden Hoe

 hand fork

 Dandelion weeder

4. Tools for hauling

 Wheelbarrow

 Bucket

5. Tools for watering

 Watering Can

 Hose

6. Tools for comfort and Safety

 Gloves

 Mud gloves

 Light weight/flexible

 Rose (long, up to elbow made of leather)

 Knee Pads

 Safety Glasses

 Sun Screen

 Hat

WHAT PLANTS NEED

 Good Soil

 Sunlight

 Degrees of light

• Full Sun = 6 hours of sun between 10 AM 6 PM

• Part Shade/Part Sun = less than above or sun earlier in day

• Filtered Shade/Sun = Under trees or structures in full sun

 Water

• Achieve Balance

• Slow deep watering

• Do not waste

 A Good Start

• See Plan & Prepare!

RIGHT PLANT/RIGHT PLACE

Things to consider

 Amount of Sunlight

 Growth pattern/height

o Will plant spread

o Will self sow

o Height

 Maintenance needs

o Deadheading

o Dividing

 Watering needs

MAKE A LIST BEFORE YOU HEAD TO THE NURSERY

 Select plants appropriate for your property

 Sunlight, soil, maintenance needs, height and spread

 Read plant labels/tags

 Ask professional nursery staff

 Keep a Garden Journal!

 Make notes of what and when of blooming, what works, what needs dividing, any special notations.



For Soil Test Kits, various publications or to learn more about the Master Gardener program:

 Cumberland County Extension Office

15 Chamberlain Ave.

Phone: (207) 780-4205 or

800-287-1471 (in Maine)

FAX: (207) 780-4382

E-mail: cecmb@extension.umaine.edu

Office hours: weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.


Favored Web Sites:

Skillins.com

Finishingtouchesgardendesign.com (under construction-check back soon)

http://extensionpubs.umext.maine.edu/