Long ago, February 1 was considered the first day of spring in the gardener’s year.  It seems appropriate then that shortly after February 1, we start getting seed catalogs in the mail and seeing a bumper crop of special gardening publications at the checkout counters.  Now, even though we landscape and garden for a living and have been doing so for decades (we hear there’s a twelve-step program, but have yet to take that first step), we’re always hungry for more! 

We jump on the spring planning guides, easy gardening tips, landscape project DIY info and best ideas for outdoor living like anyone else, and even though we’re just looking for a taste of what’s new and different, the next thing we know we’ve devoured all the latest gardening and design magazines and our heads are spinning with inspiration.

Every idea seems appealing and worth doing and the articles, in their brevity, make everything sound so simple and straightforward…why not try them all?  Why not start plants from seed, put in that vegetable garden, plant that classic herb garden, build that waterfall and grow those roses for this year’s competition?  As tempting as all the projects might be, it’s not a good idea to try them all.  You risk wasting time and money by taking on more than you can reasonably maintain.  Besides, this is your free time we’re talking about; you want to be inspired and have fun, not be overwhelmed!

Magazines are truly a feast and offer the latest information, but they also cover a wide range of ideas for a broad spectrum of people and places, so you need to winnow out which ones fit your needs.  Read them over to be informed and enthused, then simmer down and know that successful gardening and landscaping is more than a matter of reading a magazine.  It’s a matter of taking time to know your yard and what you’d like to do there.

It’s a matter of watching the rain fall to see where it collects and for how long, as well as where it drains away and how quickly.  It’s a matter of watching the sun move over your yard every day to discover where you have sun and shade.  It’s a matter of prowling the neighborhood to see what likes to grow there and talking to those who do the growing.   And last, it’s a matter of choosing what you’d like to try first and allowing yourself the time to do it well.

We used to tease one of our garden center salespeople for her folksy way of counseling new gardeners to take their time.  If she thought someone was about to bite off more than they could chew, she’d say, “Don’t rush it.  It looks like you’ve got a nice little group of shrubs here, why not take them home and get to know them for a bit.  No rush to plant them either.  Just keep them watered.  Take some time to set them up and step back and take a look at ‘em.  If you’re not sure, move ‘em around a little, see if you like that better.  Live with them for a little bit before you do anything permanent.  Then when they’ve been planted and they’re settled and you’re used to taking care of them, come back and we’ll work on the next spot.”

While we might have teased her, we knew that that was good advice.  Some things just can’t be rushed and gardening is one of them.  After all, the most breathtaking gardens have evolved over many years.  They’ve been lived in and mulled over, arranged and rearranged and they’ve taken their own sweet time to grow.

Editor’s Note: Of course, if you don’t enjoy mucking around in the dirt and you are more a fan of instant gratification, that’s okay too. You can always call on us for inspiration and design work, as well as the installation to realize your dreams more quickly and with no heavy lifting!