UPCOMING GARDENING EVENTS
Try Gardening! (Five Rivers MetroParks)
When: April 2, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Where: Possum Creek MetroPark: Possum Creek Education Building, 4790 Frytown Road, Dayton
Cost: Free
More: All ages, registration requested, walk-ins welcome. Visit www.metroparks.org for information about this and other gardening programs.
Gardening for Pollinators (Greene County Parks & Trails Speaker Series)
Learn what to plant in your garden to support monarch butterflies, spicebush swallowtail butterflies and many moths native to Greene County.
When: April 23, 10 a.m.
Where: Narrows Reserve Nature Center, 2575 Indian Ripple Road, Beavercreek.
Cost: $5
More info: Registration required by April 15. For more information or to register call GCP&T at 937-562-6440 or email info@gcparkstrails.com.
Sunshine and warm breezes paired with peeks of color and sprouting plants can spark hope that spring is almost here.
This week’s temperatures didn’t hurt either.
But before you rush out to buy flowers, plants or even a tree or two, here are some things to consider.
CREATE A PLAN: "You don't want to do anything at all until you plan," said Betty Hoevel, Five Rivers MetroParks education supervisor. "This is actually the time to get online or go to the library and do some research. Look at yard designs in books or in your neighborhood."
A little planning can go a long way toward getting the yard or garden that you want. And while gardening can enhance your property, it can also improve your health.
IMPROVE YOUR HEALTH: According to the AARP, an hour of gardening can boost bone density and burn as many as 300 calories. Bending, squatting, digging, raking and lifting can challenge muscles much like any competitive sport.
“It can also lower your blood pressure,” Hoevel said.
LOWER YOUR STRESS: Beyond the physical benefits, gardening has also been associated with reduced stress levels and improved overall mood.
“It’s so fun to watch a plant grow,” Hoevel said. “It’s really amazing the changes you can see, sometimes in just one day.”
But before you dig the gardening tools out of the garage, here are a few things Hoevel suggests:
- Likes and wants: Determine what you like about what you already have and then determine what you want to add. Do you want bushes or trees that bloom in the spring? What color(s) do you want? Do you want a tree with colorful leaves in the fall? Balance your picks by season.
- Sunlight matters: Look at how much sunlight your yard gets and at what times of day. Check this now before the trees are in bloom and, again, in the summer. What areas get the most sun? "Don't be guided by the compass, determine how much sun you really get."
- Assess the ground: "Soil is the key to whether your plants will work or not." Walk around your yard and see where it's soupy, which would indicate where it holds water. Other areas might be super-drainage areas that are generally dry. Plant accordingly.
- Shop smart: An English Garden might look lovely in the pages of a magazine but many of those flower varieties will not thrive in Southwest Ohio. When purchasing from online or national retailers, buy for Zone 6. Local garden centers generally carry plants that do well in this region. Pay close attention to plant tags that indicate: full shade, partial sun, full sun etc. "They aren't lying."
- Learn more: Classes offered by the MetroParks as well as other local park systems and community centers are a great way to increase your knowledge and confidence level. Some are conducted in classroom settings while others are hand-on so you can select the course that is best suited for you. "And talk to your neighbors and ask them questions if you see something you like in their yard," Hoevel said. "Not only will they probably tell you how to take care of it, they might even give you a start."
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