Articles

Planning for a Resilient Garden

May 2014

With so many conditions being unpredictable in today’s world, the concept of resiliency in the landscape and garden has been swirling around my mind.  The biggest reality check comes with the weather and how it impacts everything else.  Three big questions come to mind.   First, how do we anticipate or prepare for extremes of sunny and warm as it gives way to frost and frigid temps all within 24 or 48 hours.

Secondly, how to respond to extremes of parched, cracked soil shifting to downpours and flooding which erode once stable soils and plantings.

Finally, what to do about our citizen scientist-like observations of fewer pollinators and natural allies in the garden, such as bees, birds and other benign wild creatures.

Here’s a few ideas, many of which are not necessarily new or rocket science, but are a sure fire way to stay in the game with as little stress to yourself and your plants as things continue to change.

First, stay optimistic and happy.  Let go of any attachments to how you think things should be.  We are playing by a different set of rules now and more creative problem solvers are needed that see challenges as opportunities. 

There are two approaches to dealing with the weather.  One is to grow plants that you know are Front Range hardy, native or very adaptable to this area’s extremes.  The other is to be prepared to extend more energy and TLC protecting those plants.  

Hail and vegetable gardens are simply not compatible, so it’s wise to set up a structure to protect your plants.  Short of being a high tunnel or greenhouse, ideally, it should let light, moisture, pollinators and beneficial insects in.  Some crops will merit more attention than others based their value and ability to rebound.  This year, my tomatoes and peppers may have some sort of a floating ceiling.  A few years ago, I used netting to help deflect hail and although it prevented birds from easily grazing on insects, it provided some sense of security.

When the temperature soars and the wind sucked moisture away, I occasionally see dried, tight soils give way to cracks in my raised beds as they do tend to dry out more quickly than in-ground ones.  This situation is easily remedied by breaking up the hardpan surface and wetting the ground before topping it with 3-4 inches of compost and leaf mulch.  Healthy soil contributes to vigorous, more resilient plants that can either withstand adverse conditions or rebound more quickly.

Installing rain gardens and directing runoff from downspouts to its best advantage will utilize natural moisture when we do get some.

To address a possibility of less pollinators or storm damage in the garden, planting a diversity of pollinator-friendly flowering plants along with different cultivars of the same crop to spread out the harvest dates can to increase yields and hedge against total crop loss.

As gardeners, we are naturally an upbeat, resilient bunch.   Each of these issues and solutions merit more attention, thought and action based on our own situation.  Start now to prepare for and insure a fruitful season.