Down & Dirty DIY Gardening Tips from Calloway’s Nursery

I admit it. I hate to garden. Actually I’m miserable at it.

If you love spending time in the yard, digging up weeds and planting flower, I tip my hat to you. Martha Stewart and HGTV has tricked all us into thinking we can recreate these beautifully-landscaped backyards in 30 minutes to an hour while wearing a white button down and STILL not get one drop of dirt on it. Please. It’s not realistic and frankly it just makes me roll my eyes.

Still, after a long day at work and the kids are sound asleep in their beds, who doesn’t like to sit out on a your deck, porch, whatever, grab a beverage and enjoy a few moments of peace and quiet?

With a little guidance from Calloway’s Nursery, gardening will go from being a boring chore that you dread during the spring and summer, to a fun activity that just also happens to be rewarding! And even if you have a “brown thumb” like me, there are easy ways you can bring color and love to your yard.

The first trick to gardening, and frankly everything in life, is to start slow.

Don’t walk into Calloway’s, find the biggest rose bush and wander why it doesn’t grow. You’re setting yourself up for failure and that will discourage you from every picking up a shovel again. Instead of trying to tackle your entire yard, start your journey with a container garden, like those cute pot or planters you’ve seen on Pinterest that hold flowers, herbs and vegetables. This is really a win-win idea. Not only are you able to control many of the elements required for growing, but you can also introduce your family to gardening and show your kids how something simple like basil grows and eventually ends up in their favorite spaghetti sauce. And the Best Mom Award Goes To…

In our rather warm, and by warm I mean scorching, sometimes unbearable, summer weather, herbs like basil, mint, thyme and oregano will thrive in the hot conditions. Plants like vinca, purslane, moss roes and lantana will also do well. You can also ask your local Calloway’s nursery professional and they’ll be able to tell you which items are the best for your climate.

Another thing that can be really intimidating is all of the fancy terms that you hear those “experts” mention on home and garden TV shows. Annuals, perennials and biennials. Oh My. Have fun in your yard! Choose plants and flowers that make you smile and will bring joy to your family. If you are really concerned about how long they will last, the folks at Calloway’s will offer great suggestions that will not leave you more confused.

Now that you’ve gotten the 411 on gardening, grab your gloves, some clothes you don’t mind getting dirty and let’s get started!

There are just a few items you will need:

• A planter or plot
• An assortment of heat-tolerant herbs, plants or flowers
• A rock or piece of bark
• Calloway’s Premium Potting Soil
• Calloway’s Professional Flower Food
• A positive attitude!

And it’s super easy to pot your new plant friends.

1. Arrange your plants and flowers outside the potter FIRST to see what looks best. Remember it doesn’t have to look perfect – just whatever makes you happy.
2. Once you have an arrangement, place a rock or piece of bark over the drainage holes so that water doesn’t leak everywhere and then fill the pot halfway with potting soil.
3. Time for your flowers! Fill the extra space around the plants with more potting soil, leaving one inch of space at the top for water.
4. Add flower food to container, more potting soil if needed, a good supply of water and ENJOY!

Now, we already talked about how the Texas heats beats down in the spring and summer months, so make sure you water often until you see water seeping out the drainage holes. Remove faded blooms to promote new growth and regularly trim any extra stems so that your pots stay gorgeous. Think of it like you’re getting rid of your plant’s split ends.

And it’s just that easy. If it makes you feel more official, go ahead and put on a white button down like Martha. After all, that’s why we purchase all of those fancy laundry detergents and bleach.

Happy Gardening!