- Author: Leah Taylor
PLANTING PRIVACY VINES: MAKING THE MOST OUT OF A DEAD TREE
A huge Maple Tree at the side of the home died suddenly several years ago and Bryan has since trained a Silver Lace Vine to climb up its stump. “I thought it would be cool to use the Maple Tree as a trellis to keep its amazing shape but also have something growing,” Bryan explains. “I gave it some help last year with white mesh to get it to grow up the trunk, but it didn't go beyond that, so in the late winter I put deer netting all around the branches and this year it totally took off.”
PLANTING PRIVACY VINES: CREATING SECLUSION IN THE YARD
The last area that was open to the street from the yard is at the front of the house, where their entryway and front porch is. Bryan says they planted a Silver Lace Vine at the bottom of the fence a few years ago, but the fence really wasn't tall enough to create privacy for the yard on its own. He wanted the vine to extend higher than the fence to add the extra seclusion. “Once the Silver Lace Vine started growing up the fence this summer, I got a couple of trellises to nail at the top of the fence and it just shot right up those,” he explains.
The vine now almost doubles the height of the fence itself and creates a living wall for privacy in the yard.
WHY VINES?
Bryan and Casey grow vines in their city garden for several reasons: he says that they would need to get a permit to put up a permanent fence in their yard, and that a fence would make them feel like they were “living in a box.” They looked into doing hedges and experimented with shrubs, but decided that all of that would take too much time to grow in and create real privacy. “We realized from watching a couple of these Silver Lace Vines that we put in a few years ago that they would do really well here,” says Bryan. “We could get practically near-instant gratification while having a screen up, it looked nice, and it comes back year after year.”
WHY DO THEY GROW?
“I grow to have a nice environment to sit in and relax in, says Bryan. “I like living in the city and being close to everything, but having green walls and privacy screens lets me still have a spot to be surrounded by nature.” Bryan adds that he also gardens to help out pollinators in his area.
“In gardening, I'm looking for function and low maintenance,” he says. “There's limited time in the day; if I'm going to plant stuff here I want to spend my time enjoying the yard rather than maintaining it,” he says.
- Author: Leah Taylor
It's fun and you can do it! With a little love, water and determination you can have a backyard garden. Imagine how good your potato broccoli soup is going to taste with items plucked right out of your garden. IT IS AWESOME! Gardening is a thrilling journey that rewards you and your pantry with great tasting food.
One of the most important things to know when starting a garden is that mistakes will be made, no matter how many books and websites you have surfed and read, things die. Have no fear, though, for this will make you a better gardener. Nothing beats experience.
Some problems with planting:
Planting Too Much. Start small; allow yourself to become familiar with the basic act of gardening and how much work it takes. Begin with just a few types of vegetables and plan on expanding the following year. Tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and snap beans are fairly forgiving for the novice gardener. Kale and leafy greens are good, easy cool season crops. Maybe try a bit of broccoli.
Not enough sunlight. Vegetable plants require at least six hours of direct sunlight to thrive. Summer vegetables like tomatoes and peppers are especially demanding of full sun. Cool-season crops are a little more forgiving of shade, with lettuce being perhaps the most shade tolerant. This also depends on climate. In the hotter areas of San Diego, afternoon shade is actually welcome.
Poor soil preparation. Soil is perhaps the most critical aspect of a vegetable garden. It must be deep, loose, friable, and nutrient-rich. Incorporating plenty of organic matter in the form of compost or well-rotted manure is the best way to amend soil and keep it healthy. Hard, compacted ground must be tilled or turned. A raised bed is the ideal approach to good soil for small gardens
Planting at the wrong time. Many crops have a relatively short window of opportunity for the ideal planting time. Plant cucumbers too early and they will suffer with the slightest frost. Plant broccoli too late in spring and it will bolt (flower) with hot weather. Make sure and check with a local source like the Ag Extension of UC Davis or Master Gardeners for the best planting times in your particular area.
Improper plant spacing. Spacing is crucial for allowing the plants to develop fully and to allow plenty of sunlight and airflow (important for disease prevention). Even though new plants look small, they will get much bigger by the time they are producing. When seeding things like carrots, it is important to thin plants to the proper spacing (indicated on the seed packet) after seedlings have emerged.
Improper watering. The amount of watering needed will vary depending on soil and climate conditions. Good garden soil stays moist but is well-drained. Seeds and small seedlings need to be watered at least once a day to keep the soil moist, but not flooded. For established plants, let the top inch of soil dry between watering. Overwatering can be just as bad as under watering.
Fertilizing too much. The most important way to “feed the plants” is to feed the soil with organic matter. This creates a natural micro-ecosystem that enriches the soil. Applying too much chemical fertilizer will cause lush green growth with little or no fruit. Make sure to apply fertilizer exactly as directions indicate. Organic fertilizers are better because they must be broken down by microorganisms to become available to the plant, moderating the nutrient release.
- Author: Leah Taylor
Are my gardening days over now? Can I lift that bag of fertilizer? So many questions ran through my head thinking about tending my garden, while also starting a family. In reality, all the worrying was for nothing and I found out gardening has been the best medicine for me and my growing belly.
After work, my garden is my relaxation. It's a place of peace for me to get some fresh air, enjoy the sounds of nature, and explore the wonderful plants my hard work has produced. As it turns out, this after work hour of gardening has led to less stress which is just what a growing baby needs.
I garden because I'm pregnant and can't wait to share my garden with my baby when he comes into the world.
