A Garden Primer a Guide to Gardening in the Midwest for the Novice Gardener

2021 Sunita Shastry. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

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ISBN: 978-1-6655-1334-0 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6655-1333-3 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2021900605

Published by AuthorHouse 03/04/2021

CONTENTS

Acknowledgements

Garden Glories

Preface

Chapter 1 Gardening

Chapter 2 Garden Basics

Chapter 3 Getting Started: Designing Your Garden

Chapter 4 Putting Your Garden Together

Chapter 5 Trees and Shrubs

Chapter 6 Perennials

Chapter 7 Roses

Chapter 8 Annuals

Chapter 9 Ground Covers and Vines

Chapter 10 Foliage Plants

Chapter 11 Bulbs and Corms

Chapter 12 Herbs

Chapter 13 Growing Vegetables and Fruits

Chapter 14 Gardens for Each Season

Chapter 15 Gardens for a Purpose

Chapter 16 Garden Styles

Chapter 17 Solving Problems in the Garden

Chapter 18 Other Creatures in Your Garden

Chapter 19 Garden –Related Activities

Chapter 20 Gardening in the 21st century

Chapter 21 Useful Information

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Starting a garden is a daunting task. Where do you start? What to you plant? Who do you ask? I remember that feeling of being overwhelmed in my early 30s. Then through hours of reading, joining a Garden Club, and then finally completing the Master Gardener program at the University of Illinois extension, I gained more confidence, and learned what I needed. So first, I would like to acknowledge all my teachers for all the knowledge they provided. Having gone through that experience, I wanted to put together a fairly simple primer which could help any gardener starting out in the Midwest. I am not an expert. Although I have a slew of degrees and credentials, none of them are in horticulture. Also, this book has not been endorsed by anybody, or any other organization. It is my labor of love.

The other thing I liked about gardening is that I could do it along with all my other responsibilities as homeowner, wife, mother, active community member – the list was endless. I would like to thank all my family members – husband, son, parents, parents in law for their understanding- because it soon became very obvious that my interest in the garden was not a passing fancy. I appreciate that you let me enjoy my interest – my passion without complaint. I don’t know when it became obvious to others – like my sisters and close friends – that I was often unavailable- probably digging out something outside!

Finally, to the people at Authorhouse who helped me put this book together – I greatly appreciate your help and support.

Sunita Shastry

December 30, 2020

To my dear mother Padma Rao, commemorating her 90 th birthday.

For your loving, caring presence which has been an example to all of us.

GARDEN GLORIES

I could have researched a cure for cancer,

worked at a computer 9 to 5.

I could have spent decades

doing something else,

But I planted a garden instead.

T’was an early spring day,

filled the pots with damp soil,

pressed the tiny seeds in firmly.

Were they seeds of fragrant basil?

Nay, they were seeds of hope.

Checked them each day

to see the tiny, green shoots finally

burst through the soil.

Oh the Joy!

Days and weeks go by till the day when,

the earth is turned, a seedling taken from the square pack,

pressed into the hole, a layer of compost,

a layer of mulch, some water.

Twelve weeks later, the round, red sphere of sweetness

lay in my hand,

perfect in every way.

In fall, as the leaves sail down from the trees,

dump a bag of bulbs upon the bed of soil,

arrange them and cover well, and water.

Then wait 20 weeks for the beautiful blossoms,

the gold of the daffodil, the crimson of a tulip,

the fragrance of the hyacinth, the tiny blue globules of muscari.

Twas a twig, with a bud at one end,

brown fuzz at the other.

Takes a leap of faith

to dig a hole, amend,

plant and water and wait –

Tis been 15 years and each spring,

the pink cloud of blossoms,

the heart-shaped leaves,

the small sturdy trunk,

fulfills the promise of Spring.

A warm summer day,

with shovel in hand,

Dig up the clod of earth

sort out the pairs of bluish, sword-like leaves.

Tease them out and space each pair,

into a new expanse,

Press down, water, and wait again,

for soft petals of bicolor iris

to unfurl.

Today I tackle the deep-rooted weeds,

Release them from their prison in the soil,

with my trusty trowel,

It sails on to the compost heap

or burn pile,

A weed, never appreciated,

except in its loss.

I pick the bounty of walnuts,

toss on to the burn pile,

before the squirrels

hide them in the ground to bring forth

unwanted walnut stalks.

The season begins on a snowy, winter day,

the seed packets beckon.

Sort and select; some staples, others heirlooms,

or new offerings with intriguing names.

Such tiny specks carry the potential of every

plant, flower and fruit,

that we enjoy all season long.

A pumpkin for Halloween?

I dream of a pumpkin for my grandson.

Plant the seedling when the soil is warm,

tend, water, weed.

Then the beautiful yellow flowers unfurl.

Oh dear, you need a male and a female flower

to be there for the bees to pollinate!

So two plants! Who knew?

Luckily Nature smiles on me.

The first tiny pumpkin appears

grows first with green stripes,

gradually turning orange.

The light in the toddler’s eyes,

As he gets his first pumpkin,

the very first one that grandma grew.

Through springs’ late frosts, hot summer days,

Falls crisp, dry touch,

Rain, and winter aconite blooming

through the melting snow,

I have tended this plot and watched and shared,

Nature’s wonder and bounty.

‘Tis true so much else has filled

the years as they have flown by.

Much to celebrate, some to lament,

But this I do know, with each passing day,

Seasons unfold with joys and pain.

I think back to the gold of the daffodil,

Bees buzzing on the asters, the fragrant rose,

the sea of white daisies, the firm touch of the cabbage.

So many memories……..

I’m glad I planted the garden then,

worker with nature, watched her magic,

enjoyed her bounty,

lived the life of a gardener instead.

PREFACE

Why a Primer?

It should be no surprise that two of my interests – writing and gardening would come together. Over the years, articles and gardening journals have been the way I have addressed the merger of these interests. Years of pouring over articles and books on gardening has given me knowledge and immeasurable pleasure. When I thought about writing a book on the subject, I thought of what kind of book I would have liked to have had access to when I got started.

My Gardening Philosophy

I have always had a yearning for plants and flowers. In my childhood in India, in our apartments, all I had was a bunch of containers which were tended to by me. After coming to USA, it was only after 7 years that I had a house with a sprawling yard covering over 2 acres. This was for me a lifelong dream come true. I have tended it for over twenty-five years, from my son’s toddlerhood. Along the way, membership in a garden club, and then training in the Master Gardener program provided me with the tools to be a better-informed and effective gardener. Over the years, while other pursuits have fallen out of my life, gardening has remained a big part of it for up to three decades now.

Over the decades, I have honed my skills as also my philosophy. Do no harm borrowed from medicine is a foundational concept. For me, it means doing my best not to make the place that I am the steward of any worse than I found it. I try as much as possible to work with nature not against it, in regard to what I add to the soil or put into the environment.

The other aspect is the realization that as we get older, we cannot do what we used to do in our youth. It is important to choose judiously so as not to increase our work more than we can handle. In this matter as well, I do not want to become too dogmatic. For example, some folks make the policy that they will not grow any plant that needs to be deadheaded i.e. the removal of the dead flowers. But I do include some plants that I like which need this cumbersome chore. I enjoy pelargoniums i.e. Geraniums for their ease of growth, range of flowers and interesting scent. I do plant it and bring some indoors as well, and deadhead them as needed.

In all matters, what is important is your willingness to do what needs to be done. No doubt if you do not deadhead these plants at all, over a month they will look horrible. So pick material which suits your taste and which you are willing to take care of. Do not go by trends or by other people’s taste.

Gardening Audience

This book has been put together for gardeners in the Midwest. Within that demographic, it has specifically been designed for the novice gardener, covering the whole gamut from those who have two pots in their balcony to those who have a garden, enjoy the activity, and the harvest of vegetables, fruits and herbs that they have grown.

In the Midwest, we are dealing with hardiness Zones 4 to 6. Most of the material mentioned here is appropriate for surviving and thriving in that range. Deliberately, plants which are considered marginally hardy have not been included. The reason being if they do not survive, this may be discouraging to the novice gardener.

How to use this book

As a Primer, the book has been written for the beginner, laying out the process step by step. At the same time, it has incorporated ideas about design, and concerns about the future, which may seem to be well beyond the scope of beginners. Yet a thoughtful approach needs to inform all our activities today. Even a novice who may not have the time or resources to devote to a beautiful garden can surely have a small front garden or a group of containers that look stellar. Such activities can be done thoughtfully, so as not to harm the environment.

After a number of how to sections about how to get started, there are several chapters, each dealing with a specific plant material such as trees, annuals, and so on. The Top Picks have been selected keeping in mind the novice gardener and what I call a no-fail approach. It is a truism that nothing succeeds like success so a gardener who is successful is more likely to be encouraged to try new things. The Highlight On sections provide more information on one specific plant or aspect.

A gardener can start for example with a container. It is so easy to pick up a container that someone else has designed with beautiful material. But it is far more satisfying to pick out your own materials, plant it, and watch it grow throughout the season. As a gardener, if you are looking for new ideas or inspiration, these have been incorporated in many chapters. Also, a later chapter on Garden Styles may be of interest.

The lists of plants are also included for easy reference. You may copy that section and take it to a nursery, when planning a garden. While the conventional wisdom is to buy a large number of plants, for the novice perhaps a scaled-down version may be better. Try something out before going all out for it.

Do refer to the useful information sections at the end. This has been included to provide core information which will help you. Simple botany lessons have not been included. Only those topics that may help you garden better have been covered.

I hope this Primer will help you enjoy your garden more. My hope is to share with you the enormous joy and satisfaction that has taken deep root in me as my knowledge, skill, and time spent with plants has increased. If I succeed in making you enjoy growing plants even a little, I will consider that my work in writing this book has been a success.

1

Gardening

Why Gardening?

Gardening is fast becoming one of the most popular hobbies among people. The reasons are many – being outdoors is a change of pace for people, given our increasingly sedentary lives. People who own a home usually have some outdoor space which needs to be tended. Furthermore, our recent interest in healthier food has resulted in more people moving toward growing their own. Many are learning that the salt-heavy food which we are told is so bad for us can be replaced with food enhanced with home-grown herbs and spices, which make our food healthier, and tastier too.

A week-tended garden is a joy to behold

The Challenges

Notwithstanding its plethora of benefits, gardening has many challenges which it behooves you to be aware of before you commit to it. Gardening is done outdoors – in an environment which is impossible to control. Further, the weather impacts on what you can do outside at any given time. While we have successfully controlled the indoors to better suit our comfort levels in terms of temperature and humidity, once you are outdoors, you are at the mercy of the weather in your area. If you have allergies to pollen, working outdoors may make you suffer from asthma. In the Midwest, we have four seasons – the fourth one, winter, precludes anything growing outside.

The Benefits

To many of us, the benefits far outweigh the challenges. Working outdoors helps reduce the stresses of life – work and home-related. Watching plants grow can be very therapeutic, providing an emotional benefit second to none. Gardening is good exercise – digging, weeding, and pruning, all provide a good workout. Given that, many of us have embraced gardening as an endeavor that we enjoy and are willing to spend a considerable amount of our time, money and effort on it.

Who is a Gardener?

At the outset it should be noted that anyone can be a gardener. An interest in living things is only natural – seeing that we share that quality with the whole plant kingdom. You can convert your black thumb into a green one. What you may not realize is that even the best gardeners have consigned their failures i.e dead plants, to the compost pile! All you need to do to become a better gardener is to take enough interest so that you learn what you need to know, to be successful. It is also helpful to have certain qualities; these will help you be a better gardener.

Patience: This quality is very important because the true results of gardening take time. The seasons unfold – and there is nothing one can do to hurry them. Plant a seed and most take a week or two to germinate, and a whole lot longer to grow to maturity. Trees take years to reach maturity.

Perseverance: Working to keep something living is a commitment – and, unlike certain pets, plants do not make a noise, asking for what they need. However, they do have their own language to indicate they need something. And ignoring those cues will result in you having a bunch of ailing or dead plants!

Creativity: Having a creative flair can help you be a better gardener. Gardens are ever-changing, which allows that one can never get bored with them! There is always something new happening in your garden, every day.

Before you start your garden, there are a few things to consider:

1. Your Reasons for Gardening. Start off by identifying your personal reasons. This will help you make appropriate decisions and choices.

2. Your Resources: time, energy, money, space, information.

3. Your lifestyle.

Time

A. How much time do you have?

If you work long hours, you may keep that in mind when deciding what kind of garden you want. Most of us spend a great amount of time outdoors mowing our yards. If you would prefer not to do so, you can make certain choices to reduce that time.

B. When do you have time? After work, and on weekends is usually what people may say.

Energy

A. How much energy do you have?

If you have issues with certain types of physical activity, keep that in mind when you plan your garden.

B. Do you have others to help you?

Is your spouse/significant other going to help you? Do you have children old enough to help? Are you willing to pay someone to do some of the chores?

Money

How much money do you want to spend on your garden? Make sure to work up a budget as to how much you are comfortable spending. Throughout various segments, methods to reduce the amount you want to spend on gardening will be featured.

Space

A. Size of Garden: The typical garden lot is half an acre. Many people have less space than that, others have more.

B. Other Garden Spaces: Some folks may have greenhouses, garden rooms, roofs or balconies which are also garden spaces.

Information Sources: Think about what resources you can bring to bear. Make sure your sources are reliable. The first year you plant a rose, it may not look like the beautiful picture in the magazine!

A. Books and magazines

B. The internet: websites are a great resource. Just make sure you are using sites with good information; university extension sites are one reliable source.

C. Other Gardeners/ Garden activities

1. From Neighbors and Friends’ Gardens. It may be better to try something that your neighbor has success with than a friend, who may have different growing conditions than you do. For example, an exposed site tends to have more drying conditions and wind damage, which a more protected site may not have.

2. From Gardeners/ Garden Activities. Garden clubs and Master Gardeners are an excellent source of ideas. They have knowledge of local conditions and experience of gardening more than you may have. Master Gardeners can give you research-based information which will be more reliable than an individual gardener. Participation in Garden Club activities, garden tours and other such activities can also be informative and inspiring.

Your lifestyle.

A. What kind of lifestyle do you have? If you are a person who keeps your home very tidy, you may want to have the same type of garden. Make choices that suit your lifestyle in plants, and hardscape, just as you do with furniture and room décor.

B. Do you like to entertain? If so, in which season?

If you like to entertain outdoors, your garden can provide a pleasant venue. Outdoors, the weather is a factor that cannot be controlled. What can be controlled is your choices in plants and outdoor furnishings.

Purposes of Your Garden: What purposes do you expect your garden to fulfill? If it is primarily for relaxing after a day at work or on the weekend, design a place that will provide you repose and relaxation. It could be a deck overlooking your back garden, a patio or a sunroom. If you like to sunbathe in summer, make sure you have privacy, to preclude any peeping toms!

In deciding the purposes of the garden, certain factors need to be considered:

1. Privacy vs openness: If you need more privacy for your patio, a hedge may be necessary, if your nearest neighbor is too close.

2. Recreational use of the Garden: Plantings and furnishings can be selected to facilitate repose and relaxation.

3. Entertainment: If you would like to entertain outside, perhaps an outdoor grill, a fireplace, appropriate seating for dining/sitting outside, protected from too much sun or wind will all need to be considered.

4. Use by children and pets. Appropriate areas for children or grandchildren need to be built into your plan. These spaces need to be safe for children and take into consideration their energy and needs. If you have a dog, many folks find a separate enclosure for them may be needed.

5. Maintenance: the maintenance of your outdoor space is discussed throughout, in each section.

Assessing your garden

A proper assessment of your garden will help you make an effective plan for it. Some aspects that need to be considered are listed below.

A. Certain Aspects of your Garden

1. Type of Soil: This has been discussed in the next section on soil.

2. Direction of prevailing wind, windy spots, hot spots, cold spots.

3. Shady spots: The amount of sunshine available is a critical factor for plant growth. So, shade is an important consideration. Shade gardens planted with shade-loving and shade-tolerant plants have been covered in a separate section.

B. Checking Natural and Constructed Features

• Existing Vegetation – Mature trees and shrubs

• Natural topographical features – rock outcrops etc.

• Unattractive Views - such as an ugly house nearby

• Attractive Views – vistas of hills, forested areas

• Essential site features: easements, setbacks, placement of meters, downspouts.

C. Make a list of your site’s problems: items you want to hide, low lying areas, a slope etc. Many of these problems have been addressed in the section on solving problems in the garden.

2

Garden Basics

Before you start making your garden, there are a few garden basics to consider.

Garden Basics

Plants need a few things to grow and flourish: soil, water, air, temperature and sunlight. To have a beautiful garden, you need to ensure that your plants have all of these in the right amount, in the proper range.

Soil

What is the purpose of soil? Soils provide support for plants, mineral elements for plant growth, and water.