Four Investments for a Better Garden in 2019

Investment Number One: Build your gardening skills. The more you know, the better you’ll grow. Taking classes, joining a local garden club and finding someone to mentor you along your gardening journey are three ways to strengthen your gardening knowledge and techniques.  

Consider joining Hoe and Hope Garden Club, a well-established local organization whose membership includes all levels of gardening experience. For more information regarding Hoe and Hope by click on this link: http://hoeandhopegardenclub.com/.  

Take some classes. At The Flower Bin, we offer classes in the spring and fall. As a matter of fact, our first class for 2019 is on Saturday, January 19. You can learn more about this class and others on our website at https://www.theflowerbin.net/home-decor.  

Find a garden mentor. A garden mentor is someone with the training, knowledge and experience to help you make good decisions when it comes to planting, growing and harvesting your crops. This could be a neighbor, a friend or someone in a local garden shop that you can bounce garden questions and ideas off of.  

Investment Number Two: Build your garden soil. Soil quality has the greatest influence on your crops and yields. You can overcome a lot of gardening mistakes if your soil has good structure, drains well and is healthy and rich with microbial activity. Adding organic material on a regular basis, utilizing cover crops effectively and incorporating strategies that build and maintain soil microbe health are methods that will pay off in larger yields.  

Investment Number Three: Know, don’t guess. From Azomite to Langbeinite to Vermiculite, you have a lot of choices when it comes to garden supplements. It’s a good idea to test your soil before the season begins. You can use a DIY kit or send a sample off to Colorado State University for a more extensive test. Once you have your test results, bring it to us and we'll help you figure out what to do. 

Investment Number Four: Buy the best tools you can and take care of them. Good tools make every garden task easier, safer and more effective. Create a designated storage spot for each tool and get in the habit of cleaning your tools and putting each tool away after you’ve used it.  This way, you won’t waste time looking for tools when you're ready to go to work. 

Finally, get out in the garden every day. Working in the garden isn't all about the chores you "have to do". Whether you're growing tomatoes or dahlias, make sure you pause every now and then and enjoy your garden. It's one of the healthiest aspects of your life.