Garden Spot - Take Time to Note Conditions in Your Garden - August 2004

As the summer progresses take time to note conditions in your garden. How are your plants performing? Are there areas in your garden which do not perform as well as others? Are there plants which never bloom or flop on the ground?

For instance, this time of year, it is not uncommon to see plants which are stressed in the garden due to extreme heat, lack of moisture, lack of sun, etc. Plants which are stressed are more likely to succumb to disease or insect infestation. It is very important to observe plant stress and correct it where possible. Plant stress is present when wilting, discoloration, small blooms or no blooms, lanky growth habit, etc. are observed.

Note the different micro climates throughout your garden. A woodland micro climate often will provide longer heat and moisture protection for understory plants but little sun. Some plants will thrive in a woodland micro climate where they can be protected from sun and heat, others will require more sun and dry periods to bloom and thrive.

Note soil conditions in your garden. Sandy porous soils will not hold moisture as long as soils with a clay content. If you have plants which seem to wilt frequently, you may need to amend the soil to hold moisture longer. On the other hand, plants which are yellow rather than green may be getting too much moisture. In any instance you may need to move the plant or amend the soil to provide better drainage. Some soils have little or too much nutrient or chemical content. If your plants are performing poorly, you may wish to have your soil tested. Often the testing center will provide a recommendation on what types of nutrients or chemicals to add to the soil to correct any imbalance.

Observations made this year, with corrective action taken, will provide invaluable information for a successful garden in future years.