Hill Gardens of Maine -- How Did We Do This Year?

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How Did We Do This Year?
by Fred Davis, MG, Hill Gardens of Maine (To view previous articles, click: Archives)

Welcome through Fred's Garden Gate! (note) It’s time, once again, to soberly and responsibly conduct our annual survey of exactly how we, as individuals, performed in the garden during the past gardening season. That word, responsibility, is one which more and more serious gardeners are shifting to the tops of their vocabulary lists. Long gone are the days, for example, of gleeful abandon in the use of toxic chemicals in the home gardens and food-farms of responsible gardeners and farmers. So-called "modern" ways of chemically forcing and force-feeding plants we choose to grow—whether ornamentals, or for human use as food or clothing—are being closely scrutinized for their impact on our planet. . .and our health.

This time, let’s consider three important facets of gardening and see how our methods and ideas stack up. We’ll examine soil health, nutrition (plant’s of course) and how we deal with pests and problems.

By now most of us should have gotten the message that the soil—that frighteningly thin layer upon which our very existence as humans relies—is not an infinite resource, and is not able to be used and abused at our every whim and fancy. Some gardeners have even realized that healthy, productive soil contains vitally-necessary air spaces, and that tromping around on loose, airy soil compacts it, forces out those air spaces and makes it very difficult for fragile plant roots to penetrate. So. . .how about your garden this past season? Is your soil loose, airy and healthy? Do you or your garden’s visitors walk on cultivated soil, or do you and they remain on paths or other designated accesses?

What about your garden foundation’s nutritional health? Did you have your soil tested this year or last? Oddly enough, fewer than 1 in 10 gardeners have any idea at all regarding their soil’s pH (alkalinity/acidity) or nutritional content. Without that knowledge, it is impossible to know exactly—exactly—how much lime or fertilizer to add to their gardens each season.

Almost as critical to good and responsible gardening as periodic testing, is the method of fertilizer application. Ever-increasing numbers of responsible gardeners now realize that (except for highly-soluble nitrogen) most granular fertilizer, and lime, is largely stationery in the soil—it stays where it lands. When you "fed" or "limed" your garden this past year, did you broadcast granular fertilizer or ground limestone around the surface and then walk away? Or did you carefully calculate correct amounts (based on a test), spread, and then cultivate it in. . .to where the roots are? Do you recall hearing or reading somewhere that, if the lime and fertilizer remains up on the surface, roots must focus their attention on the surface, too—leaving them more vulnerable to injury due to drought, cultivation or compacting? Yep!

The test is nearly over.

When faced with weed, insect, disease or nutritional difficulties in the garden this past season, did you try your level best to limit applications of chemicals to bare minimum? Or did you spray, dust or otherwise sling exquisitely toxic chemicals (a great many pesticides and fertilizers available on store shelves, these days) hither, thither and yon, possibly endangering the health and safety of our families, neighbors, pets—and our water and air resources? Better yet, were those necessary applications restricted totally to natural, far-less-toxic materials such as pyrethrum, BT or rotenone for insects; rock dusts, natural meals or compost/manure teas to solve nutritional problems; and good ol’ fashioned, in your face, get-down-on-your-hands-and-knees-with-a-trowel-in-your-hand methods for dealing with weeds?

Finally, returning to the soil health category, how successful were your efforts at composting and other resource conservation programs you’ve doubtless heard or read about—probably dozens of times? Responsible gardeners place a high value on every small lump of topsoil. . .every scrap of compostible material. . .every leaf, twig, blade and root which can be converted into nutrient-rich compost.

Responsible gardeners never waste a resource which would improve the health of their gardens. They never contaminate crucial natural resources like air, water and soil through unwise and indiscriminate applications of dangerous chemicals. Responsible gardeners always look across the fence to see what effects their gardening methods impact their neighbor’s space.

There are, of course, other facets of gardening which could easily have been included in this brief narrative. There really are a great many things that responsible gardeners need to keep in mind: the soil. . .our air and water quality. . .the health of our kids. . .not to mention the quality and appearance of the food and flowers we grow, and the consideration for our friends and neighbors.

So. . .how did you do in your garden during 1998? More importantly, what can you do in 1999 to make ours a better world. . .a better place to garden and live?

Have a wonderful and prosperous ’99! And remember...share with a shut-in, or someone less fortunate than you...and watch the smiles!

Note: While this article was written in 1998, it's content and purpose are essentially the same for any year a gardener sets hands to seeds, plants, soil, or tool. (Back to top)

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