The gift of time in the garden, given the pandemic – Buffalo News

How many times in your life have you said, "If only I had time for ... " Perhaps you regret many things you couldnt do the carpentry project or the book you intended to write or the gardening because of your job and duties and social commitments?

I have often said aloud: "If I could just stop time ... " Well, some of you may be feeling time has practically stopped, and this is the year you do have time for gardening.

These suggestions are especially for people who havent done much gardening or yard work before new homeowners or renters who are just learning to take care of a yard.

Its also for people who might have hired others to do the work during a busy time of life, but things have changed now its DIY time.

Some folks may be pinch-hitting, indoors and out, for someone in health care or doing other essential services. Whoever you are, there are some things everybody with a yard ought to know:

First two hints for your and the yards health:

Do not walk on wet lawn or soil. Your feet or equipment harm turf grass and other plant roots, and make the soil compacted so plants cannot thrive. When the soil is crumbly in your hand and you cant make a mud cake, then its time to get out of there.

Do prepare for a workout. This is no time for weekend warriors to be seeking physical therapy. Warm up your muscles before you do garden work. Stretch. Its easy to underestimate what gardening is really like: It looks so pretty.

Actually yard and garden work can be more strenuous than a gym workout, even if you could join your favorite exercise class.

What the yard wants

1. Pick up sticks: Pile them somewhere on your property. Even if you are not allowed to build a compost pile using food waste, you can make a pile of branches, twigs, leaves and cut grass. Eventually the pile of organic matter will decompose and form a fine soil amendment.

2. Do the weeding: Stroll your property and try to identify the weeds. Show pictures to other gardeners online, or do research to figure out whats a weed or a perennial ground cover or desirable plant. In case of an unknown plant, a good trick is to put it in a pot to grow until it reveals itself.

Once you are clear which are weeds, dig or pull them up. If they have deep roots (dandelions) dig straight down and dont leave pieces behind or they will regrow. No chemicals needed. Its another workout.

3. Fix weak lawn patches: If you see a thinning or bald patch of lawn, the DIY method would be to scratch up the area with a rake, add some good compost or garden soil (up to one-half-inch thick), and spread some grass seed that is suitable for the site. Dont hesitate to call a lawn care professional with questions about seeding, sod or soil.

Also consider: If your lawn is more than you need, or there are areas where its never pleasing, replace it with native flowering plants or ground covers that will delight many birds and beneficial insects.

4. Do corrective pruning: Pruning is one of the earliest spring tasks if you do it correctly.

If you are new to this, do not attack a poor shrub with your hedge clippers or electric saw to make it shorter. Shearing or topping most plants (haircut style) is simply bad pruning.

Instead, first look at your landscape shrubs and small trees for broken or dead branches. Remove them using hand pruners, loppers or a small pruning saw. Always make the cuts just above (outside) another branch or a node where a new branch can grow. Choose a branch or node that points outward, where you would like a branch to be.

If you see an odd, disproportionate shoot or branch, also cut if off. But dont get carried away with pruning. Get a good book or online instructions from International Society of Arboriculture, Davey Tree, or other arboriculture sources. For large trees, contact an arborist.

What flower beds want

In addition to picking up sticks and weeding (once the soil has dried), early spring is the time for first steps:

1. Cut back dead perennial debris: It is better to stay out of a perennial garden or a mixed border if you dont know whats in there, as you can damage the crowns of many plants that show up much later in spring.

But if you see stems and leaves from last season, cut or rake them out. Be gentle around emerging plants. Hellebores the first perennials to flower are probably blooming already, so do cut away any of the old, raggedy leaves from last season.

2. Dont uncover most perennials: Generally it is too soon to remove the mulch thats protecting most plants. Leave them covered, since wide temperature fluctuations can be expected. Plants prefer to wake up gradually.

3. Help the flowering bulbs: If you see patches of crocuses or daffodils trying to poke through the mulch or ground covers, pull back whatever is smothering them. They can handle the cold and deserve to have their moments in the sun, literally.

If you have tulips, consider protecting them with chicken wire or netting, if deer or rabbits are likely to visit. Repellent sprays may work, too.

Time to do these things is a gift, even if it may be for reasons we would not have chosen. For those who are new to landscape and garden care, this could be your time to take charge of your own place. Enjoy the process.

Sally Cunningham is a garden writer, lecturer and consultant. She and Jim Charlier are the authors of Buffalo-Style Gardens: Create a Quirky, One-of-a-Kind Private Garden with Eye-Catching Designs (St. Lynns Press, $24.95).

Take a look at another recent column fromSally Cunningham:

Relieve stress in your garden, as pressures from pandemic increase

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The gift of time in the garden, given the pandemic - Buffalo News