Vocabulary

wise – мудрий, розсудливий

goal – мета, ціль

upset – розладнувати, порушувати

vicious – хибний

appropriate – відповідний, доречний, придатний

integrated – складовий, повний, цІлий

Don’t fight Mother Nature

A smart gardener learns to appreciate what grows well in his or her backyard and doesn't fight Mother Nature.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) divides North America into several plant hardiness zones according to climate, rainfall, soil type, and temperature. Before you plant, identify your plant hardiness zone. Then research what trees, shrubs, perennials, vegetables, and fruits are recommended for your zone.

State universities, together with the USDA and county governments, maintain regional extension offices to educate the public about applied sciences, such as horticulture.

Other sources include avid gardeners in your neighborhood and publications written specifically for your area. Knowledgeable landscape designers and retail nurseries also offer advice, but steer clear of those who plant or sell mainly what customers request and not necessarily what's suited to local growing conditions.

Vocabulary

appreciate - оцінювати

hardiness – міць, витривалість

extension – розповсюдження

applied – прикладний

avid – жадібний

knowledgeable – добре обізнаний

retail – роздрібний продаж

nursery - розсадник

steer clear of – уникати, остерігатися

suited – підхожий, придатний

Plant judiciously

Planting the right plant in the wrong place can be just as detrimental as trying to grow plants poorly adapted for your zone. When placing a plant, consider its mature size and its need for sunlight or shade. A plant encyclopedia provides this kind of detail about most garden plants.

Even with information readily available, many gardeners flunk this test. Just look at oak trees planted under utility lines or too close to buildings, or a vegetable garden located in a shady part of the yard. Trying to grow vegetables in less than full sun (or impatiens in full sun) is asking for failure.

The proper time to plant is equally important, especially when growing vegetables. Not only must you know which are warm-weather crops and which are cool-weather ones, but you also must consider location. Gardeners who wish to grow cool-weather vegetables in the fall must know how long it takes the crop to mature and count backward from the first expected frost.

Timing is also one of the keys to successful landscape plants. Plant woody shrubs, trees, and ground covers in the fall or winter. Landscape plants planted during the spring and summer are more prone to environmental stresses.

Vocabulary

judiciously – розсудливо

detrimental – збитковий

mature – стиглий, зрілий

flunk – провалитися (на іспиті)

utility lines – комунальні мережі

impatien – будь-яка рослина з роду бальзамінових

timing – вибір певного часу

prone - схильний

Amend soil, and mulch with abandon

No matter what the soil type, most successful gardening depends on amending the soil. Healthy soil that is alive with nutrients and microorganisms produces healthy plants that have few problems. Prepare beds for planting by eliminating weeds, tilling the soil, adding organic matter, and aerating compacted soil.

You can never use too much mulch. This simple layer of organic or inorganic material on top of the soil can work wonders. It helps the soil retain moisture, moderates soil temperature, keeps down weed populations, and makes the weeds that do appear easier to remove by hand.

Organic mulches such as shredded bark, pine needles, or composted leaves are cheap. A 2- to 4-inch layer of organic materials applied twice a year is recommended for most garden and landscape plants. Another benefit: when the mulch decomposes, it can be turned in the garden soil to further improve soil structure.