In the gym this morning, I noticed there were many, many more people exercising than usual. It struck me that these folks were following through on their New Year’s resolutions to improve themselves for 2020 — at least for a while.
As gardeners go, and I’m included in this group, the new year brings our thoughts to the grand potential of our 2020 gardens and landscapes. Thumbing through the catalogs piling up, we make our wish lists for seeds and plants. Man, our gardens are going to be rocking this year.
But, just like the people who will stop going to the gym in a month because exercising is hard, many gardeners will abandon their big ideas because gardening is hard work, too.
It gets hot, and it seems like the garden becomes a never-ending chore. However, it doesn’t have to be that way. Working in the home garden and landscape can be a very enjoyable experience, plus you get fresh tomatoes.
So, here’s a few of my tips to make your 2020 gardening more pleasurable.
I have one last piece of advice that just might save your life, and that is to use sun protection.
This is important for me, as I’ve been dealing with skin cancer for the last seven years. Use a sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher and reapply as directed. Higher SPF does not mean it’s longer lasting, so reapply as directed.
Also, wear a wide brim hat when you’re outside working in the landscape. I wear hats that provide a SPF of 50. Forty years ago, there were not the products available that we have today. Use them!
Happy New Gardening Year.
Gary Bachman is an Extension and research professor of horticulture at the Mississippi State University Coastal Research and Extension Center in Biloxi and hosts Southern Gardening television and radio programs. Contact him at [email protected].
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