Embarking on the Plant Parenthood Journey: A Comedy of Errors

Why does gardening feel so hard?

Close your eyes and speak the word "garden" out loud? Did you visualize the picture described earlier?

For many greenhorn gardeners, the saga begins with the innocent act of acquiring a plant and then realizing they've signed up for a botanical soap opera. Gardening, a world where even plants have drama queens and divas, turns out to be a rollercoaster ride of emotions and mishaps. What happens next is the eager, energized gardener finds themselves exasperated and soon resigns themselves to not having a harvest.

For individuals who have stopped gardening and now want to begin again, it's important to keep in mind that gardening involves some work. There are three crucial principles to always remember to be more successful with gardening.

#1 Take it slow

Do not run out and buy dozens of varieties of plants. What often happens is the plants do not make it into the ground in time or sometimes the wrong plants end up together. Make a plan for your garden. This will take a little time but pay off in the long run. Observe the sun in the areas you have identified for potential beds. Do they get all day full sun, part sun or part shade? Do you have fencing around your yard to protect from animals like deer, gopher or even rabbits? What plants are native to your area and will flourish better and be resistant to pests?

Start with just 1-2 beds for the first season. Note your successes and areas to fix. You can expand later on once you feel more successful.

#2 Seek out resources

There is a whole gardening world out there to discover. Social media sites like Instagram, TikTok or groups in Facebook can be a wealth of information. YouTube has an entire library of videos from gardening hobbyists to farmers with helps tips. If you do not have a social media account your local library or county extension office are another resources to tap into

#3 Enjoy the process

Gardening is not about an end game. It is a journey that gives us time with nature, enjoy the results of our work and even share with friends and family. Gardening can be your hobby, time of solitude and connection to nature. If the process is not enjoyable, you will struggle to sustain and likely give up.

Are you in the local Gainesville area and want help with starting your garden, we offer consultations on starting your garden, maintaining your garden and we plant garden beds. Order on our website or fill out a form to get started with us.

Good luck with your gardening!