Let's face it - most of us garden by trial and error. Plants don't come with a guarantee and we never know how they are going to like living with us (or we with them). One way to take out some of the guesswork is by keeping a garden journal.
Spring is the perfect time to start your journal. As you are cleaning up your garden, ask yourself some questions. For example: Are you growing perennials but hate digging and dividing? Did a favorite plant die because you were too lazy to spray for insects or fungus? Had you envisioned an English cottage garden and found our East Texas heat kept you watering constantly? Be honest with yourself and record your answers in your journal. The exercise will help you understand the kind of gardener you really want to be. Then, it's time to go to the local nursery. This time you'll make better plant choices.
This isn't the end of your journal. Write down planting dates and care instructions. If a plant turns out to be special, include a photo. By keeping a journal, you will find yourself becoming a much more confident gardener and your plants will love you for it.
Gayle Jones, Smith County Master Gardener
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