Garden Joy

“I grow plants for many reasons: to please my eye or to please my soul, to challenge the elements or to challenge my patience, for novelty or for nostalgia, but mostly for the joy in seeing them grow.

~David Hobson, garden writer and humorist

Countless times they ask me, “How is your garden?”

Whether at the grocery store or hair salon, the post office or car wash, it seems the common thread of conversation this spring has been about gardening. My response typically is, “better than expected.” The truth of the matter is that I’m impressed more than ever before. As the garden matures, I realize it grows into the garden I had imagined.

Sometimes we surprise ourselves, like in this email message I received. “I actually managed to get ALL the plants I grew and acquired this year in the ground this spring. I’m so proud of that—it doesn’t happen every year! Now, hopefully everything will grow!” You can feel the joy in those words. I believe all gardeners can relate to that sense of accomplishment. Whether just a few plants, or more than you can plant in one day, getting them all in the ground and potted is every gardener’s holy grail.

As we head into summer, and drought has gardeners praying for rain, I’m reminded that several inches of mulch does a world of good. It holds the moisture in and keeps the soil cooler, resulting in healthier and happier plants.

We’ve planted all we’re going to plant in our landscape. Now the goal is survival. Mulching well and watering when needed are keys to success.

Another friend keeps telling me how amazing his turf looks. “It should be on the cover of your magazine. Just drive by and take a look.” The pursuit of landscape perfection takes quite a commitment. Surprising are the lengths we’ll go to make it happen. While I’m not an aficionado of turf growing techniques, I certainly can relate to the attentiveness of such an undertaking. I also can appreciate that feeling you get when discussing your successful vegetable garden or turf or a garden full of cut flowers. I guess that’s why they call it the victory garden.

The joy of life can be found in all that we encounter, from monumental accomplishments to everyday tasks. You don’t have to go far and you don’t have to look too hard. Take a walk. Visit your neighbor’s garden and listen. Listen to the joy in their words as they describe their garden life. Discover the joy that lies waiting in you. Identify the things that bring you joy, that enrich your life, and then share that joy with others. And your garden is the perfect place to start.

I’ll see you in the garden!

Scant Foliage On Maple Tree

Question: I have a 10-year-old red maple tree. This spring I noticed the leaf canopy at the top of the tree did not leaf out as fully. It also had many seed pods. What’s going on with my tree? Will it recover?

Answer: You are not alone as many maples suffered from this issue. The problem is the ongoing drought. The trees have been under a great deal of stress. As a result, they put on less growth which explains the weak leaf out this spring. When plants are stressed, they often have a higher fruit set. The fruit is the tree’s way of preserving the species as it is the seeds for the next generation.

The tree was telling you, “I am stressed and need help.” Even though the tree is established does not mean it will not suffer. Lingering drought issues have been with us for some time. The recommendation is to offer supplemental water and deeply soak the tree monthly if we do not have consistent soaking rains to offset the drought dating back to the summer of 2022.

Drought Wreaks Havoc On Arborvitae

Question: I have noticed several evergreen trees which have died. Arborvitae were hit hard. What disease is happening, and should I be worried as I have a couple in my yard?

Answer: I sound like a broken record. This is drought stress. Evergreens are usually the hardest hit and first to show the signs of the ongoing dry conditions. No evergreen is native to the KC area. The past year to 18 months has seen wild swings in weather from excess moisture to the lingering drought.

Many evergreens are shallowrooted. Drought, combined with summer heat, is not a good combination. As a result, the trees have died. What can you do? Head off the effects of the drought before the plant turns brown. Once it is brown, it is way too late. Like my answer