Photography by Kevin A. Roberts
Is your wisteria running wild and your honeysuckle heading for the hydrangea? Chip Tynan at the Missouri Botanical Garden (4344 Shaw, 314-577-5143, mobot.org) is your man. After more than 50 years of gardening, the self-taught green thumb oversees the botanical garden’s Horticulture Answer Service. Here are some of his words of wisdom for planting your own garden this spring.
• Soil preparation is the most important thing you can do for your garden. Before you plant, get the soil tested to see what nutrients it needs, and then build the soil. Show your soil some TLC with compost; stockpile leaves to make your own, or use commercial compost.
• Put the right plant in the right place. Research the habitat that the plant needs—like moisture and sunlight needs—and plant accordingly. Some plants need to dry out after watering, but some thrive in moist spots.
• Variety is the spice of life. Don’t plant the same thing in the same place year in and year out, especially in vegetables gardens. Although it takes some organization and planning ahead, crop rotation pays for itself, because it keeps the soil healthy and prevents pests.
• You can still stick with your favorite color scheme, just try a different plant. And be sure you aren’t planting closely related crops, like tomatoes and peppers, in the same spot, because you’ll have the same problems.
• Fertilizer is not a cure-all; it’s meant to help already-healthy plants grow better.
• Don’t overdo it with watering or fertilizer. Just because a little of something is good, it doesn’t mean a lot is better.
• Usually, the best time to water is early morning. But if a plant is wilting in extreme 3 o’clock heat, water it. Plants that have been watered in the early morning stand up better to the heat of the day. Apply water in a timely fashion if a plant is wilting; many will revive. Drip irrigation is the most efficient way to water.
• Commit April 15 to memory. It’s the average last frost date for the area and a good starting point for planting. Some plants are hardier and can stand up to the occasional end-of-season frost, so they can be planted earlier. Online plant calculators can help you determine ideal planting times for those hardier plants and fall vege-
table gardens.
