Gardening Tip: Journal

Consider keeping a gardening journal.  Take a pencil and note pad into your garden at different times of the day to record what you see and where.  Look at the soil. Where does it dry out too fast or stay water-logged for long periods of time? Notice where the shadows fall. Are there any sun-loving plants that become shaded by the house or trees? Will pruning the trees solve the problem or will it be necessary to move those plants next year?  Record the worst problems, their causes and the possible cures.  Do the same for those plants that have the fewest problems.  Record the dates when plants bloom and the date of the last frost in spring and the first frost in fall.  Over the winter months you can review your notes and determine a game plan for the spring.  You will then know exactly what to do ahead of time to maximize your garden for years to come.