About Garden Rules and Their Exceptions

By George Graine, Fairfax Master Gardener
“Nature does not hesitate to interfere with me. So I do not hesitate to tamper with it.”
Henry Mitchell in “One Man’s Garden” (1992)
Yes, Virginia, there is humor in the garden and it is not too hard to find. Put aside your shovel and stop fussing over insect pests or icky leaves. Award winning garden author Carol J. Michel self-published her fifth book in a series filled with numerous mirthful essays, this time called “Digging and Delighted: Live Your Best Gardening Life” (2021). Of course, she manages to sneak in some important gardening advice that needs to be carefully considered.

Within 118 pages and 30 essays, do not look for beautiful color photos like those you see in coffee table books. Likewise, you will not find lists of plants for some specific purpose. The rationale behind this is because Carol insists that you should take a mental picture of your own garden and imagine this garden as you read her book. No doubt you will see some exceptions when you do this, and then you will understand why this book is a must read. To some extent, reading this book is almost like an autobiography of your own life in the garden. You may find yourself saying YES after reading essay after essay and realize that Carol is speaking to you. She lets you down easy and explains how to correct, or at least how to contemplate, and then overcome a particular garden problem.

The book explains some of the foibles you may have experienced in your own garden; for example, growing plants you love only to find out later that they were a bad choice. Perhaps you tired of a plant because its uniqueness is no longer such a big deal. Stop fretting! Give away this plant at the next plant swap and replace it with something that has caught your fancy. But wait . . . just a word of caution. Do you wonder why this new-to-you plant is on the table? Is this a thug plant? Will this plant attract unwanted wildlife (deer)? Will it become a magnet for insect pests or disease? Think and ask questions.

Garden with Style — Essay #13 is particularly intriguing. Here you may find yourself confused about the many ways to garden. For example, plant it and forget it, or I never met a plant I did not want, or this is a rare and unusual plant. Of course, there are also native plants that have become more popular, especially among those who are dedicated environmentalists. Then there are gardeners who prefer a bit of whimsy. While this may be difficult to define, you will know it when you see it. It would take many more pages to list and define the many types of gardens. To get the idea, check out the garden shelf at a full service book store. Also, now-a-days when you pick up a publication devoted to gardening, it is easy to find what is trendy. Of course, there is nothing wrong with that because gardening should be personal. Think of the old expression: “If the shoe fits, wear it.”

The fact remains that gardens are forever in a state of change. This is Mother Nature’s way. Sometimes these situations can be a minor inconvenience or a catastrophic event. For example, a shade garden overnight becomes a sun garden as a result of storm damage that toppled a large tree. To be sure, this happens and now, you will unfortunately experience a eureka moment. Consider what can be done with an overgrown conifer or shrub that blocks the sidewalk or view of your house or brushes up against a car as you pull into the driveway? In typical Carol style, her answer is that you need some “garden editing.” How quaint! You may have heard about plant pruning, but this subject is all gobbledygook. In fact, many books have been written on this subject. Not to worry because Carol provides succinct advice in just two pages. How is this possible? Easy — because the basic pruning rules apply to most plants, whereas the big pruning books go into minute detail for specific plants, especially for trees and shrubs.

Particularly important, regardless of what you plant, is feeding and watering the plant, found in Essays 17 and 18. This may sound simple; however, these garden rules need to be considered for your plants to thrive. Feeding your plants, according to Carol, means it is “. . . sometimes necessary but do it with the long term goal of improving soil health.” Note the emphasis on soil health because this is where the plant roots absorb the chemical elements of the fertilizer. A less understood problem is the concern for watering plants, often the bane of gardeners — either too much or too little water. What is the correct amount of water? Carol notes “. . . few gardeners get all the rain they need, so make plans to water your garden as needed.” Observe your plants, and they will indicate when they need to be watered. An exception to the dependence on a good soaking rain is for those who grow any type of plant in a container. On a very hot day, you might need to water containerized plants a couple of times, especially if they are in a sunny location.

Carol leaves us with a few sage-like sentiments. Think about these for a moment. “. . . no garden is perfect and all gardens contain a range of conditions.” Another point is to “Figure out why you garden, but don’t think too hard about it. Sometimes, it’s enough to enjoy gardening for the fresh air and the scent of a pretty flower.”

In summary, “Digging and Delighted” is a “book that is going to change your gardening life and make it better than you ever imagined.” How does Carol dare to make such a bold statement? The answer is simple. Aside from the fact that her book contains humor with good gardening advice, it is not preachy. It does not discuss the current heavy hand of sustainability, biodiversity or ecology. Humor and good gardening advice is something most of us need if we want to continue to enjoy gardening.