Gardening Goals for 2010
(No Ratings Yet)
Loading ...
Planted by: Jennifer Tidwell
Date: Wednesday December 9, 2009
Planted in: Garden Planning,Other,Personal Notes
Since I posted my Blogging Goals for 2010, I thought I’d follow up with my gardening goals as well.
I have several large projects I’m working on simultaneously. One woman with a only a machete, a few hand tools and a limited budget probably should not be so ambitious. My dad has promised to borrow a backhoe and help with the big stuff – IF it ever stops raining long enough for the ground to dry out. Let’s see…that hasn’t happened since around August sometime.
Here is my hit-list:
- Tame the wilds – I have a an overgrown fence line behind my house that borders a wooded area. Wild blackberries and honeysuckle are threatening to take over my house, so I have to do something about it. So far I have taken down about 100′ of barbed wire with, (some of which I made into a wreath), cut down some sweetgum saplings, removed about 10 cu ft of honeysuckle and still have a lot to go. The fence encloses about an acre and it’s a four-strand barbed wire affair that my grandfather, dad and brothers installed. It’s going to be a monumentous task. You can see my progress here.
- Install more flower beds – I’m working on this right now too. My goal is to have all my commercial beds installed before March. The personal garden beds get put in as I have time and money. I have plenty of space, but I want it to look like planned chaos instead of just plain old chaos. I am going for the cottage garden look, but I want it to look nice too.
- Build a patio – I have the brick, but neither the time nor the stamina to level a spot for it. It’s not going to be a fancy patio by any means. We don’t have frost heave here, so I won’t have to worry about that. The area I’m putting it in is low lying, so it will have to be above grade to avoid holding water.
- Plant some shrubs and trees – I’ve been doing this a little at a time. I’m only planting small to medium sized trees and shrubs since I’m already surrounded by the woods.
- Get serious about rose gardening – I’ve been a half-hearted rose grower for many years. I’m going to change that and incorporate more roses into my landscape. I have the beginning of a wish list here. I also found a beautiful rose blog called Carolyn’s Rose Notes to inspire me.
- Plant more perennials – I already have a pretty massive perennial collection that I’ve either purchased, grown from seed or divided from other plants. However, I want more! I want to incorporate more natives and butterfly host plants. I’d like to swap with other folks who want to do the same. I will gladly take any charity cuttings or divisions (for postage!) anyone wants to bestow on me. If you’re close enough I’ll even come dig it up and save you the labor.
- Improve my tool and equipment collection – I’m working on this a piece at a time. I recently acquired a machete, and have a few basics like rakes, hoes and shovels. I need an axe and/or a hatchet, a bulldozer, a chainsaw, a riding mower or small tractor, chipper/shredder, pole saw pruner, and a better wheelbarrow. I also need a shed to keep it all in.
- Take more pictures – In the summer I usually garden in as few clothes as possible, which don’t often have pockets. I need to get some shorts with pockets big enough to hold my camera so I can snap photos. Last year a beautiful hummingbird moth was visiting my phlox at dusk and all I could do was watch in awe. I, of course, did not have my camera because I was busy weeding!
I’m sure there are many other projects I have to tackle in the coming year. I have 8 acres, but I only maintain about 3 of it. The rest is pasture that either gets mowed or planted with crops. I really need another me who can stay home all day and work in the yard. I do have some help, and I appreciate every minute of it!
What are your gardening goals for 2010?
Possibly Related Posts:
- Panic? Who, me?
- New Services – Weeding, mulching, cleanup
- I’m still around
- Time To Push Forward
- Happy Holidays!
4 Comments
Thanks for your great post. I make long term lists for the season and short lists for the day, with the most important goals, or the most do-able, at the top. I never get everything done. I don’t feel guilty about it, just grateful for what I was able to accomplish. The undone stuff gets added to the next list.
Comment by debsgarden on December 9th, 2009 @
8:13 pm
Oh boy, you have inspired me to get going on my gardening goals too. Maybe plant 3 rose bushes, plant a new perennial garden and who knows what else! Please keep us updated on your progress on your 2010 goals :0)
Comment by Noelle (azplantlady) on December 9th, 2009 @
9:24 pm
I’ll be updating as I go along, mostly for accountability!
Comment by Jennifer Tidwell on December 10th, 2009 @
10:46 am
Line and paragraph breaks automatic, e-mail address never displayed, HTML allowed: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>
I think this is a great idea. I do it all the time, but sometimes I lose my list. I lose everything, can’t remember a thing, so I am writing more lists. LOL
Good post.