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Here are
ten reasons for keeping a garden notebook or journal. Doing this will
make your gardening chores more organized and hopefully easier.
1. Keep
diagrams of your garden beds with notations showing where the plants
are located and the names of the plants. This way after some of the
plants lose their leaves you will still be able to locate them when
working in the garden. You can also mark locations where there is room
for more plants.
2. Keep
notes on pest problems that you run into through out the year. Make
notes on when you first noticed the pest, what you used to get rid of
it and the out come, whether it worked or not. This will be a very
helpful resource for you in the future.
3. Keep
notes on when your last freeze was in the spring and the first in the
fall. This will give you some idea when it is safe to plant outdoors in
your area and when to bring plants inside in the fall. It may vary from
year to year but after a few years you will probably notice a trend.
4. Incorporate
pictures into your notebook as it will help to jog your memory of what
needs to be done, where things are located and how things look at the
different times of the year.
5. Note
the names of your plants and the varieties. That way when a friend
wants to know what that beautiful plant near your drive is you will
know and be able to share that knowledge.
6. Keep
notes on the plants that were successes and the ones that were not.
Also, include the reasons you feel some plants may not have succeeded,
such as too much shade or sun or too much/too little water. That way
you can evaluate whether to try the plant in a different location or
give up on it altogether.
7. Many
times we are busy and overlook plants that need to be divided. By
keeping notes of the plants that need to be divided you can be assured
none are forgotten. I also keep a list of the plants I will be dividing
so I know what I have to share with friends and neighbors.
8. Some
plants outgrow their location and need to be moved, by listing these
plants you do not forget them. That way they can be moved before
they damage themselves or they damage their surroundings.
9. Water
in the garden can vary by location, so keep notes on areas that stayed
to wet or dry. This allows you to effectively rectify the situation.
You may need to add drainage to an area or use different plants that
can stand more water. You can also make notes of where you may need to
adjust your watering system or where to install a new one.
10. Throughout
the year, as you see plants or items you would like to incorporate into
your garden, make a wish list. Then during the winter, while you have
time, narrow the list and plan where each can be used.
Planning ahead will save money, time and energy in the garden and a well kept garden notebook is essential in that planning.
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