By Debbie Post
Nebraska Extension Master Gardener
If you’re thinking of gardening this season, but don’t have the space, consider container gardening. Containers can provide you with blooms and veggies throughout the season. When getting started, look for plant holders with drainage holes to allow water to run through. Sometimes, you can drill or punch holes in the bottom for drainage. If not, layer the bottom with large rocks to keep the plant from sitting in water.
Once you have your planters ready. Pick out flowers or veggies and double-check your nursery plant labels. The labels can be essential for a successful harvest of produce, giving you planting instructions, growing tips, and expected dates for harvest times. In the Panhandle of Nebraska, our USDA hardiness zone ranges from zone four to five. Along with the hardiness zone and frost dates, look also for pollinator-friendly plants as they help all sorts of plants reproduce by transferring pollen. Protect those early pollinators by not cleaning up all your old growth from last year’s plants. Some overwintering insects are just now waking up. If you want to attract more pollinators this season, remove more lawn grass and plant native plants and bushes, patio or container boxes with blooming plants.
Speaking of lawns, now is also a good time to make the most of your mulching. Organic mulch, like grass clippings, wood bark, and leaves, are recommended over synthetic materials as they will compost back into the soil. Plants that are mulched require 25-50 percent less water than their counterparts, which helps with weed control and moisture retention. Make a concave mound, leaving the base of your tree or plant more open than the outside area. Don’t smother your plants with mulch. Too much mulch can suffocate or keep water from getting to the root system.
Lastly, know the best practices in watering your lawn and garden. Water your garden in the early morning hours directly to the root of your plants, versus on the surface of the plant leaves. Drip systems or soaker hoses are recommended for deeper watering that encourages more vigorous root growth. Two to three soakings a week, resulting in about one inch of water per week, is optimal.