A Weekly Garden Schedule

The gardening season never ends, there is always something to dream about, plan for, consider and buy. However, the actual season when I can get out and garden is relatively short so scheduling the work is a must.

December and January are the months when I look over my gardening journal or any notes I scribbled down during the past season. This is the first step in planning the coming year's garden. Now is the time to give thought to: what to plant or not to plant, move that there, try this here, and get something new, there is always a get something new in the plan. The plan may be quite simple, and often is in seasoned garden, but there is a plan and it gets reviewed as the months turn into weeks which morph into days before the gardening season officially begins.

The real, physical work begins when the snow is gone, sometime, hopefully in early April; once the garden thaws, I begin to add compost and renew mulch. In late May an dearly June the planting begins.

Once the garden is planted then the regular chores begin. I visit the garden every day and do a walk through. I enjoy being in the garden and have found that taking a few minutes, usually in early evening, to see what is going on is a good preventative tool.

As the season progresses, I look after chores such as deadheading and harvesting when taking the daily stroll through my garden.

About three weeks into the season I check the mulch and if needed add some, about a week later I will add compost so the soil can get feed.

If it has not rained in a week or if on my regular garden walks I notice he plants are looking limp I will water. I prefer to water in the morning and let the plants, actually the roots drink deep. Pay attention to rainfall, how often has it rained in the past weeks. This is good information to put in your garden journal.

Speaking of the journal, I update mine weekly, usually on Sunday evening. I do not carry the journal into the garden all the time and my memory could be better so I have a small notebook and a pen where I jot down anything I deem noteworthy. For example, how a new plant is doing, any surprise visitors, bot friendly and hungry one and weather conditions. This information will get transferred into my journal on Sundays.

I do not need to weed much, most of my gardens are relatively free from hunger pests and disease, going organic and taking that stroll really helps with quality control. I estimate that once the garden is in, I usually only need five to ten minutes per day to maintain. If watering is needed that adds to the time.

Mid-season, I spend a few minuets more foliar feeding and there is usually more to harvest, but any time in the garden is good time.