• About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Pickem Terms and Conditions
Sunday, June 22, 2025
The Platte County Landmark Newspaper
  • Home
  • Local News
  • Opinion
  • Landmark Pickem!
    • Weekly Pickem Updates
    • Results by Week
    • The Leaderboard
    • Pickem Rules and Help
  • Landmark Live!
  • Looking Backward
  • es_MXSpanish
  • Home
  • Local News
  • Opinion
  • Landmark Pickem!
    • Weekly Pickem Updates
    • Results by Week
    • The Leaderboard
    • Pickem Rules and Help
  • Landmark Live!
  • Looking Backward
  • es_MXSpanish
No Result
View All Result
The Platte County Landmark Newspaper
No Result
View All Result

Stay busy with gardening while you’re at home

George Edward Weigel by George Edward Weigel
April 22, 2020
in The Garden Guy
9
SHARES
236
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare via Email

H​ere are some pointers to think about before going out and buying those plants. I write about this every year errors and mistakes people make. I know when the weather starts warming up; you just want to get outside in your yard and start planning those flowers, and doing some landscaping. Remember in this area it is not safe to put out those plants before Mid May; I use Mother’s Day a date; easy to remember! And these last few days sure were a good example how the temperatures can get here in this area; highs in the 40’s and lows in the 20’s. Most plants don’t grow very well until the soil is nice and warm anyway; and there is a good chance they will get zapped by a frost if you put those seedlings out to early. Here is another good reason to start that garden; not only is working in one’s gardens good for physical health, it’s a great way to mental health. It’s just nice to be away from the everyday grind, the hustle and bustle we go through at our jobs, fighting traffic, etc. Another factor is the high stresses found in today’s fast-paced and busy life. Gardening can be great to just get away from stress and relax and even get some exercise, but if you want to have good experience and results you need to plan ahead. Gardening means different things to different people. Thousands view gardening as a hobby, a relaxing escape from the pressures of an urban environment. And now with this COVID-19 (stay at home order) more reason to get out and do something like gardening and stay busy!

Gardening errors and mistakes most common whether a beginner or expert: Gardening by its nature is going through trial and error, but no one wants the errors. Here are some of the problems and mistakes and how to avoid them. So you can enjoy the experience of gardening and have a great growing season. Making mistakes is just part of the process, but wouldn’t it be nice to avoid them altogether? I will go through some of the most common gardening mistakes and some tips on how to avoid or prevent them.

RelatedNews

Time to start planting those seedlings

Garden tips for May in this area

Lawns, gardens: It all starts with the soil

Don’t overlook: the soil we just went over how critical good soil preparation is to a garden’s success. That is why loam soil is ideal for most plants, because it has a good balance between clay and sand. Loam has better drainage than clay, but retains water and nutrients better than sandy soil. To get a good loam, amend the soil with compost, well-aged manure, and other organic matter regularly. It is easy to get excited: in the early phases of garden planning for spring. I will give you some of the most common gardening errors and mistakes a person may make. One of the most important is underestimating the time it will take to actually plant, weed, water, and maintain that garden space. So I would suggest be realistic about how many hours you can devote to your garden during the growing season. You will save yourself a lot of headaches if you start a small part of your yard to design and plan this year. You can always add on in a future season. Remember it is easy to get overwhelmed with all the chores, but ultimately, gardening is about spending time enjoying nature.

Here is a couple of more mistakes: a lot of people will do. Spend on gardening plants without a plan. When spring finally arrives, we all want to get out doors and start our gardens. It is tempting to rush to the nursery and buy each new plant that may catch your fancy. Then once you get home you start wondering where you are going to plant those purchases. And then it is a little late to realize you just have a great big mishmash of different types of plants, colors that just don’t go together. Picking the wrong plants: We have all tried to grow plants that just will not work in our climate. And there are those that overlook the soil. Yet healthy soil is critical to a garden’s success. So think carefully about your growing conditions before you start shopping for those plants. Not when you are already at the nursery or garden center. Things like that pretty perennial you want to buy, can it withstand the conditions, such as humid or arid weather in your climate? Have you researched if the shrub or tree grows well in your area? Check the USDA hardiness zone you live in. Most plants will have a tag are some kind of information that will provide on the plants cold hardiness. Remember although these tags are important factor they do not consider things like wind, altitude, heat and humidity. Check with your local nursery, master gardener or the university extension office. This will give you a good idea for what grows best in your climate.

Gardeners also tend to overlook: the soil’s pH level (this is a measurement of the soil’s acidity and alkalinity). Many plants grow in a range of pH levels from 4.5 to 7 but remember that some plants will suffer nutritional deficiencies if the soil has the wrong pH. If your soil is above 7 it will not be easy to grow plants such as blueberries and azaleas, which require acidic soil. To be sure about your soil’s pH levels order a test from your local cooperative extension office or you can purchase a kit from a nursery or garden center.

Over or under watering: is a very common problem for most beginners. Some gardeners drown their plants by watering too much and others not enough. Neither is very good. If you water too much will make plants susceptible to pest and diseases like root rot. Not enough water will weaken plants and eventually kills them. Water in the morning to allow plants to dry off before evening. Although container plants need to be watering daily in hot weather, ground plants rarely do, especially with several inches of mulch. A rule of thumb is to give ground plants an inch of water a week. And of course; you can always purchase my book; just google (George Edward Weigel book The Blue Barn. com) easy to read method on gardening, setting up a plan and strategy for gardening, How to prepare soil, flower, vegetable seeding through harvest. Homemade pesticide and fungicidal recipes and a whole lot more, etc.

You can purchase my books (The Blue Barn) and/or (An-Apple-A-Day) google (www. iUniverse publishing. com) Books, Author: george edward weigel

FOOTNOTE: George Weigel, a Platte County resident, is the founder of Cedar Creek Research, and a freelance writer and a published author specializing in nutrition and organic garden strategies. He is a member of the National Home Gardening Club; member and supporter of Arbor Day Foundation, National Wildlife Federation.

Tags: covid-19platte county
George Edward Weigel

George Edward Weigel

George Edward Weigel is a freelance writer and published author specializing in organic gardening strategies to incorporate natural and biodiversity concepts without using any dangerous chemicals. He has grown gardens of all kinds and has studied and experimented in garden methods with a focus on high outputs without depleting the earth's resources or polluting its environment.

Weigel lives in the Northland and always looks forward to spring to get started on planting and all through the summer harvesting the bounty. He studied nutrition and worked in the medical field for many years before retiring from the American Academy of Family Physicians. He believes you should protect your health by living an active lifestyle and eating natural foods for vitamin and mineral benefits.

Weigel recognizes the need for people to be able to grow their own food for cost and safety and to be sure they are getting the most nutrition their garden. It's vital to choose foods with integrity, fresh, natural and unadulterated produce is best. Fresh from the garden always trumps weeks of storage and transit from great distances. The purpose of writing books and this column is to enable people to grow their own fresh and healthy food, beautiful flower beds, etc. He likes to share years of tried and true methods, knowledge and experience.

He feels gardening is something to enjoy, and is not only great physically, but mentally as well.

Related Posts

45 Years Ago–June 20, 1980

by Ivan Foley
June 20, 2025
0

Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Baker, Jr. of Platte City announce the engagement of their daughter, Lori Ann Baker, to Devin Sherry, son of Mr. and Mrs. Willis Sherry of Smithville. The future bride is a 1980 graduate of Platte County...

30 Years Ago–June 22, 1995

by Ivan Foley
June 20, 2025
0

Robert Vick, the Dearborn reserve police officer suspended for 30 days by the city’s board of aldermen last month, has been reinstated. This action came at the board’s meeting last Wednesday. Vick had been suspended after many residents of Dearborn...

15 Years Ago–June 23, 2010

by Ivan Foley
June 20, 2025
0

Platte City police expect to submit a case file to juvenile authorities this week regarding a report they received from a local 17-year-old girl claiming to have been raped and sodomized over a span of four years by her step-brother....

Don’t know if you’ve heard but. . .

Protests, dinner parties and such

by Guy Speckman
June 20, 2025
0

Just reread my column from last week, I was in a dark place, you probably should have sent help. Try to be a better reader going forward. I did not make it out to any protests last week. I voiced...

Next Post
COVID-19 Protest Rally

Protest rally

Popular News

  • Ruslan Huseynov

    Details about murder suspect begin to emerge

    138 shares
    Share 55 Tweet 35
  • Charged in burglaries in Running Horse corridor

    13 shares
    Share 5 Tweet 3
  • Platte City makes offer to man from Arnold, Mo.

    46 shares
    Share 18 Tweet 12
  • New bridge going in on Hwy. Z

    12 shares
    Share 5 Tweet 3
  • Buffy Smith named chief of staff for Sam Graves

    7 shares
    Share 3 Tweet 2
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Pickem Terms and Conditions
Call us at 816-858-0363

Copyright © 2019-2020 The Platte County Landmark Newspaper - All Rights Reserved

No Result
View All Result
  • Subscribe Online
  • Home
  • Local News
  • Opinion
  • Landmark Pickem
    • Results by Week
    • The Leaderboard
    • Pickem Rules and Help
  • Landmark Live!
  • Looking Backward
  • es_MXSpanish

Copyright © 2019-2020 The Platte County Landmark Newspaper - All Rights Reserved