GARDEN GAB
Growers embrace new fads, revive old methods in 2020
Each gardening season brings a fresh crop of gardeners and a new wave of gardening methods. While some fads have only become popular in recent years, other trends are geared toward reviving thrifty habits from yesteryear. Here are some gardening customs set to grow in 2020.
SUCCULENTS
Succulents have been on the rise for some time now, and it is easy to see why. The fleshy, drought-tolerant plants are beautiful, long-lasting and low-maintenance. Sue Andrews, president of the Cleburne County Master Gardeners, said succulents are a top seller at the organization’s plant sales.
While most folks are familiar with potted succulents rooted in novel containers, the plants can also be grown in flower beds, Andrews said, adding that succulents prefer loamy or sandy soil and do best with minimal care.
“Don’t overwater them because a succulent doesn’t need a lot of water,” she said. “They do need some sunlight. They’re not a plant that needs to be in the dark or anything.”
Popular varieties of succulents include jade plants, aloe vera, hens-and-chicks and many others, the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service website states. Care tips for succulents and other plants can be found by visiting uaex.edu.
VERTICAL GARDENS
Those who live in areas where space is a premium can delight in vertical gardening, which utilizes upright structures, such as walls and fences, for container planting.
According to an article on the U of A Cooperative Extension Service website, the most popular designs include rows of plants layered so that water from the top row can flow down to lower plants. A vertical garden can be as simple as bags, bottles or pots of soil fastened to an upturned pallet secured to a fence or hung from a horizontal beam.
Because vertical gardens do not require bending, weeding or strenuous labor, they are ideal for senior adults, the article states. According to the article, such “green walls” also benefit the environment by creating a barrier between sunlight and homes — which reduces the amount of energy spent cooling a residence — and by filtering stormwater before it reaches the ground, thereby protecting the watershed.
CONTAINER GARDENS
In today’s fast-paced world, many people are satisfying their green thumbs with container gardens, which require less maintenance than in-ground gardens, Andrews said.
“People that work and have very busy lives with children and everything — they may want to do some gardening, but all they have time for is container gardening,” she said, adding that containers can be used to grow flowers, vegetables and more.
Container gardens may require more frequent watering than in-ground gardens because the pots allow the soil to quickly dry out, she said, adding that cooperative extension service offices can provide gardeners with tips for growing various plants in containers.
COMPOSTING
Fans of organic gardening may have made a resolution to start composting this year. Composting is a method
of generating fertilizer by allowing organic matter to decompose. The system not only produces nutrient-dense soil but also reduces food waste by utilizing kitchen scraps that might otherwise end up in a landfill.
Beginners can start composting by creating a three-sided enclosure made of wood pallets or chicken wire that is large enough to allow the user to turn the compost, Andrews said, but rotating barrel systems are also popular among more experienced compost creators.
In addition to leaves, grass trimmings and other yard waste, produce trimmings, egg shells and coffee grounds can be composted, Andrews added, but meat, milk and other animal products should not be composted.
Heat will do most of the composting work, breaking down organic matter over several months, she said, but dirt farmers should be sure to turn the compost heap regularly and allow for sufficient airflow. The compost is ready to use when the organic matter has broken down into an earthy mulch, she added.
GARDEN TO TABLE
Many restaurants have embraced the farm-to-table philosophy of sourcing food locally, and home chefs can take this mindset a step further by growing their own food. Doing so allows individuals to reap the benefits of fresh, local produce while saving money at the grocery store, Andrews said.
“It would be healthier for your family, and it would be fresh,” she said. “Gardening relieves stress, and it teaches your family how to raise their own food.”
Cucumbers and tomatoes are among the more beginner-friendly edibles, she said, adding that gardeners can grow herbs such as mint, thyme and rosemary to use in dishes and teas.
A local cooperative extension service office can give first-time gardeners an idea of plants that grow well in their area, she said, adding that the offices can also analyze gardeners’ soil to ensure optimal nutrition for plants.
Community gardens provide another excellent resource for beginning gardeners, who may be able to grow produce at a plot in a community garden if they do not have another space available, she added.
“A lot of people who are just starting to garden do that,” she said. “They will try out the community garden first to see whether they’re going to like it before they invest a lot of money in gardening.”