Try Our List Of 10 Garden Activities To Take Your Mind Off It Between Now and November 8th

Are you concerned about the upcoming election? Sick of hearing about Trump’s attitude to women? Feeling frustrated that more is not being said about the environment? Tired of hearing about those emails? Yeah, us too. So much so that on our ‘day off’ we spent hours just anxiously cycling through Twitter–Facebook–News Headlines getting more and more churned up.

Turns out we are not alone. Election anxiety is real. Our first step is to get the decisions out of the way. Do your research. The California ballot has 17 propositions on it for 2016. Wow! Try this as a possible resource or this handy tool from KPBS. Vote early if there is still time. Phew. That feels better doesn’t it.

Still, the anxiety of it. What’s the latest news? Who is saying what now? Lets all take a collective big breath. Try one (or more) of our list of 10 garden activities to break you out of that cycle.

1. Mulch your garden

Mulch is wonderful stuff. We are talking shredded tree trimmings or composted Everbloom Mulch or 2” Mulch. Not only does it act as a blanket over the top of bare soil, holding in moisture, keeping the temperature more stable, and suppressing weeds, but more importantly it feeds the soil microbes. Soil microbes are where it’s at in terms of getting healthy plants. Don’t skimp either: aim for 4” to 6”, just not right up against plants and trees.

2. Check your irrigation system for leaks and reduce the run times while you are at it

September and October are typically times when we over apply water via our automatic irrigation system. We forget that the days, while they may still seem warm, are just shorter. The plants need less water. Come the start of the rains (fingers crossed) in November and December, we should seriously consider turning the system off. Established plants have longer roots that can draw on a bigger ‘bucket’ of water storage in the soil. Building good soil by mulching or sheet mulching really expands this bucket size.

Those pesky irrigation leaks tend to sneak up on us, and especially for those of us who are billed every two months, it be expensive to find out that you have a leak based on your bill. Take the time to run each irrigation zone in your yard and check for leaks. Once a month is a good rule of thumb. Do it. Your pocket book and your plants will thank you for it.

3. Plant a fruit tree

While we are talking about water, why are we spending all that money on it if we don’t get something back? Yeah, pretty landscape trees are better than nothing, but what about having some real food to show for it? Avocado, Persimmon, Fig, Peach, low chill Apple – all great choices.

4. Sheet mulch that bare dirt area or lawn

Did you let your lawn go? After you have applied for the rebate, and had your pre-inspection, you are going to want to build really healthy soil using the sheet mulching process. Sheri and I did a podcast on that to help you along.

In September 2015, Sheri and I took part in a workshop that converted some bare, compacted dirt into a rain garden that was then sheet mulched. We had the opportunity to return to the Econo Lube in Oceanside last month and help with planting native plants. The soil was just b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l! Dark, moist, easy to dig in. Yes, sheet mulching really works!

5. Plan a garden

There is nothing more fulfilling and calming, to me anyway, than planning a new landscape or garden. The first step is drawing out a map of what you have. We created a quick video to show you how using Google maps.

6. Research some native plants

Native plants come from around here. They are used to the weather patterns we have: wet and cool in the winter, hot and dry in the summer. They feed the local birds, butterflies, bees and beneficial insects. They provide hours of entertainment as you watch the wildlife visitors. Come to our CA Native Planting and Maintenance Workshop for Beginners on October 22nd and find out more about native plants (and sheet mulching).

7. Plant your natives

Just hold on for one more week – hot weather at end of next week – but get ready. Fall is the perfect time to plant in SoCal – soil is still warm and rains are due anytime now. Dig your hole twice as wide but only as deep as the root ball. Fill the hole with water twice and plunge the plant in its pot into a bucket of water until all the air bubbles have come out. Mix the soil you dug out with just a little compost (15%) – I know, I know natives don’t need compost; but that’s only if you plant in pristine, undisturbed native soil, and trust me all urban soil is disturbed. Use amended soil to backfill the hole and press in with your foot. Water some more to wash down the soil around any pockets that may be left. Ta da! Remember: small is mighty. Those plants will look sparse but if you designed right, they will fill in beautifully.

8. Clean up your garden tools and treat yourself to new ones

Use a wire brush to clean off dirt from shovels and forks. Apply a little oil to metal tools to protect them from rust. New garden tools are always fun. Check out our favorite ones.

9. Buy some new gardening gloves

I have a big soft spot for gardening gloves. You can never have enough right? I have bought many, many pairs over the years, and they typically last about a season, or less before I have to throw them away. Until we found these Fox Glove Gauntlets this year and I love them. They have held up really well to some serious time in the garden digging out bermudagrass. I love they they protect my lower arms too. I would buy these again in a heartbeat.

 

10. Take those half empty containers of herbicide/pesticides/fertilizer to the safe disposal place.

If like me, you inherited a shed full of these nasty chemicals, do yourself a favor and get rid of them sensibly. Your plants will breath a big sigh of relief. Look out for hazardous waste rules in your local area or go to the instructions for San Diego.