MELINDA’S
GARDEN MOMENTS
Nationally
renowned garden expert Melinda Myers helps everyday gardeners find success and
ease in the garden through her Melinda’s Garden Moments television segments.
Melinda shares “must have” tips that hold the key to gardening success, learned
through her more than 25 years of horticulture experience. Viewers from across the country find her
gardener friendly, practical approach to gardening both refreshing and
informative! On this page, Melinda
shares some more extensive garden tips, which expands on the information
provided in her one-minute TV segments.
Melinda’s
New tips will be added throughout the growing season, providing timely
step-by-step tips on what you need to do next in your garden! To view online
streaming video of Melinda’s Garden Moments, visit http://www.melindamyers.com/garden-tips/garden-moments-5.html
Preparing the Soil for Planting
Clay, sand, rocks, or loam.
None of us seem to have the perfect soil.
Whether it’s
clay or sand the solution is the same, organic matter. Adding aged manure,
compost, or peat moss to the soil can improve drainage in clay soil and
increase water-holding capacity for sandy soils.
Check the soil moisture
before you get started to avoid clods, cracks, and dust. Grab a handful of soil
and lightly squeeze. If it breaks into smaller pieces when tapped the soil is
ready to be worked. Simply add 2 to 4 inches of
organic matter to the top 6 to 12 inches of soil where the plant roots grow.
Use a shovel or tiller to
mix things up. Once you’ve mixed in the organic matter, rake the soil smooth.
Then give it time to settle.
Now you’re ready to plant
and grow your way to a beautiful landscape and productive garden.
Just a bit more information: Keep working on
your soil even after the garden is planted.
Use organic mulches such as herbicide-free grass clippings, shredded
leaves, and evergreen needles. Mulch
conserves moisture and reduces weeds.
Better for your plants and less work for you. As organic mulches break down they add
organic matter to the soil. Earthworms
and beetles take the decomposed mulch into the soil to improve the growing
conditions down below.
Mulching is a great way to improve
the soil in established perennial gardens.
Topdressing along with mulching will help improve the soil and keep your
perennials looking good. It’s simple. Spread one to two inches of compost over the
soil surface surrounding the perennials every other year. Topdressing with compost improves the soil
and research has shown it provides the nutrients perennials need. That’s right - little or no more fertilizer
is needed.
For more
gardening tips, podcasts and more, visit www.melindamyers.com
About Melinda Myers
Melinda Myers, best
known for her gardener friendly and practical approach to gardening, has more
than 25 years of horticulture experience in both hands-on and instructional settings.
She has a bachelor’s degree in horticulture from The Ohio State University and
a master’s degree in horticulture from University of Wisconsin-Madison, is a
certified arborist, and was a horticulture instructor with tenure.
Outside the classroom, Melinda shares her expertise through
a variety of media outlets. She has written 20 books, including Can’t Miss
Small Space Gardening, and the Birds & Blooms’ Ultimate Gardening
Guide. She hosts “Great Lakes
Gardener,” seen on PBS stations throughout the
For her work, community service and media
presence, Melinda has received recognition and numerous awards, including the
2003 Garden Globe Award for radio talent and the Quill and Trowel Award for her
television work, both from the Garden Writers Association. She has also
received the Garden Communicator’s Award from the American Nursery and
Landscape Association and the Gold Leaf Award for Arbor Day from the
International Society of Arboriculture.
For more
information, visit Myers’ web site www.melindamyers.com. The
site features regularly updated garden tips, podcasts,
a garden club, e-newsletter, books, appearance information, “Great Lakes
Gardener” television schedule and more.