NATIONAL GARDEN MONTH

During National Garden Month in April, gather up your tools. You have permission to get dirty!

Like any other gardener, you’ve spent the last few months paging through catalogs dreaming and planning the next big adventure.  The time has come.  Whether you dream in color, spice or flavor, the all-important pleasure is getting to place those seeds or plants in the ground and nurture them along their way. 

As gardeners know, we learn from each other and find joy in improving our skills. Working the soil and seeing the result of our labor is more than just satisfying. Being able to hand the seeds of life to another generation brings joy beyond measure. 

HISTORY

The National Gardening Association declared April National Gardening Month.

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HOW TO OBSERVE

Tips for New Gardeners
  • Start small – Gardening can be an investment. Start with container gardening if you want to give it a whirl. Tomatoes and peppers will provide color and produce to eat.
  • Herbs such as basil, sage, and rosemary can also be brought in during the winter if planted in a container. If kept in a sunny window and watered when they are dry, they should survive the winter. Trim and use in your cooking.  
  • Soil – Use the right soil for the plant. Depending on the plant, you may need to check with the garden center or extension service to determine if you have the right soil to grow a particular plant or tree.  Areas with clay soils do not drain well and your plants will have wet roots in rainy weather.  Sandy soils drain easily, but in a drought, the plant will require more water unless the plant is drought resistant. 
  • Potted Plants – Anything in a container, such as a clay, plastic or resin pot will require more watering than a plant that has been placed in the earth. Depending on the daily temperature, these plants will likely need to be watered at least twice a day. 
  • Fertilizer – Not all fertilizer is the same. Read labels and use the correct fertilizer for the type of plant. 
  • Mulch – Mulching bedded plants helps protect from weeds and keeps from water loss.  
  • Raised beds – Helps save on weeding and back-breaking work. 

Sharpen your tools. Collect your seeds. Prepare your beds. It’s time to plant! Use #NationalGardenMonth to share on social media.

NATIONAL GARDENING EXERCISE DAY

National Gardening Exercise Day is observed each year on June 6 and encourages us to maximize the benefits we reap from gardening by adding some stretches and a few extra steps or squats.

Gardening on its own is therapeutic, builds muscles and burns calories. Some of the gardening activities that are excellent for working your muscles and for burning calories include weeding, digging, spading, planting, pruning, mowing, raking, and walking.

Many of us do not realize the amount of healthy exercise that we can get while working outside in the garden.  It involves a lot of walking back and forth as well as bending up and down along with other things. Being out in the fresh air and sunshine are also an added benefit. Incorporating stretching into a gardening routine may help to prevent injury, much like it does for any athletic endeavor.  Adding those squats will contribute to building or maintaining muscle, and extra steps may make gardening more aerobic if it increases the heart rate. Gardening and exercise are excellent stress relievers, too!

Other suggestions to get the most exercise out of your gardening:

  • Start slowly.  Just like any new workout program, small steps.
  • Use the right and left hands equally.  When raking or shoveling, switch hands every 5-10 minutes to give each side a good workout.
  • Make sure to breathe.  Deep, cleansing breaths bring oxygen to those working muscles.
  • Lift with your legs! When lifting, bend your knees.  Don’t lift with your back.
  • Drink plenty of water.
  • Enjoy your garden.  Visit it often!

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HOW TO OBSERVE

Pull those weeds, plant some seeds and get your muscles moving! Your garden will look great, and you will feel fantastic, too! Show us how you celebrate by using #GardeningExerciseDay on social media.