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How does your garden grow? |
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Written by Morgan Kriz/Tahoe World
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Sunday, 10 June 2007 |
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How does your garden grow?
Gardening in the Sierra mountains tends to be much more difficult because the soil is made of decomposed clay and granite and the gardening season is only three months long. High Sierra Garden’s Nursery Manager Lynnie Groundwater explains that Tahoe is a problem area for those with a green thumb.
The key to gardening in Tahoe is water. The soil does not contain nutrients and water is not easily absorbed. Groundwater advises not to water in the heat of the day — early morning and late evening is the best time to keep the soil moist.
 There are other ways to garden here in the Sierra such as container gardening, she said.
When planting in containers, always use planting soil. To allow for growth, be sure to dig a hole twice as deep and twice as wide as the plant to allow for good air circulation, Groundwater said.
“If someone uses a large container, fill the bottom of the container with pine cones or egg cartons and then put potting soil in so the container is not as heavy and is easier to move.”
Container gardening
As an alternative for people who do not have a landscape in which to garden, container gardening is a perfect way to decorate a deck or as a front door greeting. Similar to art, container gardening is a creative process and an individuals preference — there are only a few guidelines to follow to complete the picture with gratifying results.
Lainie McFarlin, garden writer, photographer and speaker has been container gardening for more than a dozen years.
“It’s like a little mini landscape,” she said. “The container size can vary depending on space and location. There are ceramic, wooden and plastic containers that can be visually appealing, it is an individual’s choice.”
The best time to start container gardening is early June, when weather is more predictable. By going to your local garden center you can get an arrangement of flowers and flowering plants to decorate your container.
 Tips for beginner container gardening:
• Start off with a manageable size container. Find a nice small to medium size container.
• Choose plants you enjoy looking at.
• Match the growing conditions of the plant to the location of the container. Ask experts at the garden center which plants grow in the shade or the sun. Don’t be embarrassed to ask questions — the more you ask, the more you know and the better your container will be. Make sure the container is stable.
• Good drainage. Use potting soil which provides good drainage and air circulation for the plants’ root system. The container needs holes for drainage as well. To avoid deck damage place small rocks under the container to aid in the drying of any water accumulation and to decrease the amount of water tarrying on the deck surface.
• Check the plant daily in the morning to see if it needs water. Only water if necessary
Photos by Morgan Kriz/Tahoe World
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