Tara Nolan’s book helps homeowners avoid the pitfalls of gardening between the house and the street.
While out on socially-distanced walks, do you find yourself saying howdy to more and more folks in front yards? Even stopping, perhaps, for a longer-than-usual chin-wag?
If so, you’re not alone, suggests gardening expert Tara Nolan.
“I think people are responding to the social aspect of gardening. When I’m in the garden, everyone who walks by either says hello or stops to chat — from a distance, of course. It’s a way of connecting … of creating conversation,” says Nolan www.savvygardening.com.
At the same time, she thinks those lucky enough to have yards are more grateful than ever for their little patch of earth. I know I am.
My own spring yard work began in a disorganized shed filled with dirty tools. I took everything out, washed tools, threw away irretrievably broken ones, and charged batteries for the power tools I would use — a blower to blast the dust out of the shed and hard-to-get corners, and a string trimmer to take out growth between paving stones, and do edges.
The prep time would have had multiple benefits, says landscape designer and Craftsman tool brand www.craftsman.com ambassador Carson Arthur.
“It will make gardening more enjoyable —y ou won’t waste time looking for things. There’s another benefit — cleaning tools ensures that anything fall fungal or bacterial that may have come from your plants doesn’t get transferred to the spring garden. I’d also wipe them down with a solution of water and white vinegar.”
Arthur, who also owns Carson’s Garden and Market in Ontario’s Prince Edward County www.carsonarthur.com, where the product line includes heirloom seeds, garden tools, and home gear, says his string trimmer is getting a good work-out on his large rural property.
“Cutting long grass around trees stops rust and bacteria from getting into fruit trees and stops insects from making their way up into trees in general. It also discourages ticks, which live in long grass.”
Carson Arthur says using a line of power tools that share a battery platform saves time and trouble.
Supplied
Both Nolan and Arthur are seeing a burst of interest in edible gardens.
“It’s the first time many Canadians have gone to a grocery store and seen empty shelves. We’re also hearing about increased prices, and a lack of migrant workers. People are deciding to grow what they like to eat,” says Arthur.
Not only has Nolan long been an advocate for home vegetable gardens, she suggests bringing the practice into the front yard.
Nolan’s most recent book, Gardening Your Front Yard, explains how to present a sustainable, functional and beautiful face to the street.
“For a long time people were migrating to the backyard,” says Nolan. “Now (they see the front) as a useful space, an extension of the home. Again, they like the social aspect. Or maybe they have urban property with a shade tree in the backyard that has roots. The front yard might actually be the best place to grow food.”
Nolan says the urge to get overly ambitious in revamping a front garden is common, but she recommends taking small steps.
“You might want to rip everything out, but if you can’t get the plants in when the ground is bare, you will end up with a whole lot of weeds to dig up and you will be starting at square one. It’s nicer to tackle it piece by piece,” she says.
One way to get started is to tuck edibles into existing beds. “I like to add things like lemongrass and different herbs, and do a mix of edible and ornamental,” she says, adding that herbs can also go into pots, and that Swiss Chard, lettuce or herbs make a nice border.
For more from Nolan, go to www.aroundthehouse.ca
Adding native plants and flowers is another good move; living in Dundas, Ontario, Nolan favours, Cosmos, Zinnias, Liatris, Coreopsis and Echinancias.
“All those pollinators you attract with them will also pollinate your vegetable garden,” says Nolan. “It’s a win-win that’s beautiful and functional.”
