Garden Smart! More Gardening Hacks

Last month we featured garden hacks from Master Gardener Volunteers, and we have so many to share that we are back again with more! With a few simple strategies, you can make routine garden chores a bit easier and maybe even a little more fun. Polk County Master Gardener Volunteers have MORE “gardening hacks” to help make your time in the yard both productive and pleasant.

SIMPLE HACKS FOR GARDEN UP-KEEP

1. SCHEDULE HEAVY TASKS SEASONALLY

Certain times of year can be more “chore-heavy.” Block time in your calendar for these tasks to help you stay on track and avoid being caught off-guard by sudden plant growth or seasonal clean-up needs. A few days of concentrated effort in the spring and early fall can set up your planting beds for months of less maintenance and more enjoyment!

2. TIME YOUR MULCH APPLICATION

In the spring, we get eager to mulch and “dress up” our garden beds, but if you have planting beds in or around large pine or oak trees, refrain from mulching until all the pollen and leaves have fallen so that your new layer of mulch is not covered. Even better, consider using the fallen leaves and needles themselves as mulch!

3. PLAN FOR MATURE PLANT SIZE

When selecting new plants, consider their fullgrown size. Small plants can often be relocated if your landscape plans change, but large shrubs, palms, or trees require planning and often a lot of work to relocate or remove.

4. KEEP PLANT TAGS

Save plant labels and mark newly installed specimens in your landscape. Knowing the variety helps you track performance, research care needs, and purchase more of your favorites. Use a garden journal like “Your Polk Yard 12-Month Guide and Journal” to record your plantings.

STAY SUN-AWARE

Keep a can of spray-on sunscreen in your garden work basket. When hands and arms get covered in sand/dirt as you garden, you might have more of a tendency to reapply your sunscreen with a convenient spray, as opposed to stopping to wash hands to apply cream types. Remember that sunscreen needs to be reapplied during periods of sun exposure.

STAY SAFE, STAY COOL

1. GARDEN EARLY AND PROTECT YOURSELF

To reduce heat stress, schedule yard work for the early morning. If the sun is beating down and you need more than a hat to cover up, consider using your beach umbrella and moving it around the yard with you as you work. You could even use a pop-up canopy or tent for more coverage.

2. HYDRATE BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER

Prepare two bottles of ice water before heading outside. You may even want to have one bottle with an electrolyte mix just in case the heat becomes too much for you. Keep one water bottle with you as you move around the yard and drink often. Switch out bottles when you finish one, always keeping an ice-cold bottle waiting for you in the refrigerator. By keeping water with you as you work, you can continually sip and stay ahead of dehydration.

There are many gardening hacks that can make yard maintenance a bit easier this summer. Remember, our growing conditions in central Florida are different than other locations and UF/ IFAS Extension Polk County and the Polk County Master Gardener Volunteers can help guide you and answer questions you have about landscape maintenance.

For more information, contact UF/IFAS Extension Polk County at 863-519-1041 or visit us online at: sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/polk. The Plant Clinic is open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. to answer your gardening and landscaping questions. If you are interested in purchasing a garden journal, contact the Plant Clinic. If you are not in Polk County, contact your local UF/IFAS Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Plant Clinic.

To learn more about gardening and landscaping in central Florida, listen to the “Your Central Florida Yard” podcast. Or find out more on our Substack: substack.com/@ yourcentralfloridayard.

An Equal Opportunity Institution. Anne Yasalonis is the Residential Horticulture Extension Agent and Master Gardener Volunteer Program Coordinator for UF/IFAS Extension Polk County. Please contact her at anneanne@ufl.edu.