Gardening
is one of the oldest and most popular hobbies around the world.
Although attaining perfection at it is impossible, competitions
encourage and help promote excellence bringing out your best.
Constructing an outstanding garden
would be a cinch if one had unlimited funds! A phone call could
work the oracle by obtaining the services of a garden architect
and a landscaper with a team of skilled workers to implement your
blueprint. What a delight it would be to see an ordinary yard turned
into a work of art replete with ornamentals, decorations and lighting,
all within a week. Features incorporating water, rock, roses, lilies,
irises, and other vivacious perennials against a backdrop of trees
and shrubs with a lush lawn, can also be worked in with due consideration
to climate, exposure and surrounding terrain.
Unfortunately, the average person can only dream of such grandiose garden
projects because of financial constraints and other obstacles. Notwithstanding,
homeowners and amateur gardeners have devoted their time and energy to beautifying
and improving their environments patiently and diligently. The best example
is perhaps the Butchart husband and wife team who transformed their 'rocky'
home into a national horticultural monument.
The recipe for winning is knowledge,
skill and a lot of donkey work called dedication! To help novice
gardeners improve and win their first trophy, here are some tips:
 Use
your library. A wide variety of good books are readily available
covering all aspects of gardening. The Internet is equally good
especially for locating plants on your wish list. Videos too are
a great help.
Visit
prize-winning gardens in your area to ascertain what grows best.
Make notes. Ask questions.
"Growing
for Showing" should be your aim. Ensure that you have good
soil, drainage, appropriate pH, adequate rain water and organic
matter like compost and manure for robust growth.
Pay
attention to plant characteristics, form, colour, texture, height,
spread and balance to avoid placing a round peg in a square hole!
Cleanliness
is absolutely essential. Deadheading, removal of dried branches,
twigs and yellowing leaves, weeding, pruning, fertilising, hoeing,
feeding, mowing and other garden chores must be tended to once
a week or on an ad hoc basis.
Most
gardeners try to maintain interest through all seasons. Regrettably,
one cannot display the brightest gems of spring and fall in summer!
To compensate for unsightly gaps and loss of colour, grow more
plants that attain their peak to coincide with the garden competition.
Use annuals for fillers.
Curb
appeal and foundation plantings are important to set off your home.
The overall landscape design must complement the structure and
colour of your home. Concrete, brick, wood, paving tiles and other
building materials must be carefully selected to match or contrast
with the surrounding colour scheme.
Gentle
curves are more natural for informal gardens than regimented lines
of plants. Don't clutter the lawn. Clusters of three and five of
the same variety look better than single specimens, except for
the odd large tree. Do not overcrowd.
Destroy
diseased plants by burning. Transplant as often as necessary to
allow for better air circulation and to enhance good looks, be
they small or large specimens. Garden improvement is an ongoing
process and never ends. Learn shortcuts to save time. Fortunately,
today's equipment and improved tools greatly facilitate garden
construction projects and renovations.
Start
your final clean-up, clutter removal and tidying, well in advance
of the competition incorporating all suggestions. Read the rules.
Avoid contact with judges.
In the final analysis,
your aesthetic sense based on priorities and the size of your pocket book,
should be your best guide.
Having your own niche amidst nature's green with birds, bees and critters
appreciating your handiwork, is not only gratifying but therapeutic. The peaceful
and tranquil setting is ideal for curing jangled nerves or holding a garden
party. The beer and barbi fare will taste better in a congenial atmosphere
amongst friends and relatives. Small wonder that gardeners everywhere are such
kind, helpful and happy people.
Join your local Horticultural Society
and compete to achieve your full garden potential. By improving
your garden, you will be a good influence in your neighbourhood.
More importantly, you will be helping fight pollution. |
