Jenkins Jayme - Garden rules: the snappy synopsis for the modern gardener

Copyright 2010, 2011 Jayme Jenkins, Billie Brownell, Previous Content
Copyright 2001 Judy Lowe

All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Published by Cool Springs Press
P.O. Box 2828
Brentwood, Tennessee 37024

EAN: 978-1-59186-491-2

Digital edition: 978-1-61059-814-9
Softcover edition: 978-1-59186-491-2

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Jenkins, Jayme.
Garden rules : the snappy synopsis for the modern gardener / by Jayme Jenkins ; and Billie Brownell.
p. cm.
ISBN 978-1-59186-491-2 (softcover)
1. Gardening--Popular works. I. Brownell, Billie. II. Title. III. Title: Snappy synopsis for the modern gardener.

SB455.J54 2011
635--dc22

2010039931

First Printing 2011
Printed in the United States of America
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Managing Editor: Billie Brownell, Cover to Cover Editorial Services
Developmental Editor: Jamie Chavez, WordWorks
Art Director: Marc Pewitt
Illustration: Bill Kersey, Kersey Graphics

Visit the Cool Springs Press Website at www.coolspringspress.com.
You can find this title, other Cool Springs Press books, and other gardening books for sale at www.GardenBookstore.net.

Garden Rules

The Snappy Synopsis for the Modern Gardener

JAYME JENKINS and BILLIE BROWNELL

Acknowledgments

A special thanks to my friends and family: to my dad, for making me look up every word in the dictionary when I was a kid; to my mom, for nurturing my creative side; to Lisa, for the support and picking up my slack; to Debra Prinzing, for introducing me to the garden writing world; to Jean Ann Van Krevelen, for connecting me with Cool Springs Press.

Thanks to Roger Waynick and Cindy Games, for taking a chance on a first-time author; to Jamie Chavez, for fixing all my grammatical errors; to Bill Kersey, our illustrator; and to my patient editor and co-author Billie Brownell.

Thanks, also, to my online Facebook, Twitter, and garden community friends who tolerated all my questions and provided me with many valuable insights.

Jayme

I would like to thank the people at Cool Springs Press, all of whom have been so supportive of the Garden Rules concept. Specifically, a big thanks to Roger Waynick, Cindy Games, Marc Pewitt, and Jim Bashour; not only did they form the cheering squad, but they contributed ideas, as well.

I would like to thank the Cool Springs Press authors, from whom I learned so much as we worked together over the years.

Id also like to thank my family, who are also interested in gardening and landscaping, for inspiring my garden efforts, and to my friends Jamie Chavez and Jason Owens, who listened as I shared ideas and gave their honest feedback.

And for all of you, who want a garden or landscape to be proud of, but who battle time more than anything elseI hope you find this book helps you achieve that, even a little.

Billie

Contents

Introduction

You wont often hear authors saying this, but:

THIS BOOK IS NOT FOR EVERYONE.

It really is not intended for the expert gardener, though our essential garden rules can benefit everyone (and you can teach old dogs new tricks). Gardening is a wonderful pastime, but like many hobbies, you have to devote time to ittime you think you may not have. (Heck, even the word pastime talks about time.)

Rather, this book is for those of uslike youwho enjoy gardening, who may be newlyweds, apartment dwellers, or new homeowners; those who are interested in having an attractive home landscape but who may not have much garden know-how; and those who want to learn a little more. Its for those of us who face all kinds of competition for our time.

Competition? Oh yeah, you knowits also called Life. Our careers, families, social lives, and other interests are just a few things that demand our attention. Where is gardening supposed to fit in? You may have wandered into the gardening world through the slow-food movement, the growing concern about food safety, or decided some pretty flowers would soften the look of your balcony railing. Whatever the reason, your interest has been piqued and youre wondering what your next step should be. Look no further! Garden Rules is for you.

As authors, we dont claim to offer the only advice in town, but we do claim to have the snappiest, CliffsNotes version of abbreviated, cut-to-the-chase advice for incorporating gardening into your lifenot the other way around. Nor do we claim to offer every garden ruleits a small bookbut we cover all the biggies.

Some of the biggies are soil, sun, watering, fertilizing, and all that other stuff, as well as planting, pests, garden design, and time management. We believe that our garden rules, written in ways that you can easily remember, will help you garden more successfully. What does successfully mean? Well, thats up to you. It might mean you feel a little more garden-smart, or are less overwhelmed, or manage time in the garden better, or you learn more about gardening within your environment, or you have just a little knowledge edge over your friends.

I, Jayme, am a pushover for DIY projects. I love taking an idea (or even copying someone elses) and making it into reality. I was the kid who begged my parents for the latest Play-Doh and LEGO sets, then cheered, Hey, Mom, look what I did! Gardening feeds my desire to imagine, create, and enjoy the rewards of a job well done. Id be lying if I said I dont silently gloat every time my friends and neighbors compliment me on my garden.

Ive heard almost every excuse in the book for not starting a garden. But, there is a garden for every person, every budget, and every lifestyle. If youre limited by time, start small; if youre on a budget, learn to start from seed (and grow patience, toosorry, I couldnt resist); if creativity is not your strong suit, buy a premade design; if you have no yard, grow a windowsill or balcony garden; if you lack the know-how, keep reading this book.

I, Billie, am so happy to have this opportunity to share with you those lessons I learned the best (sometimes the hard way) that may give you a few shortcuts and ideas. Even though I love being outside, Ive found that gardening is just one of many outdoor activities I enjoy, which include riding horses and hiking. But when it comes to a choice between riding my horse or gardening, well, truthfully, there isnt a contest. Giddy up!

As authors, we encourage you to give gardening a tryyou may find you love it. But even if you dont ever become an avid gardener, we hope this book will help you find a happy balance between it and your life and that you find the time to do it well enough.

Jayme and Billie

Rule Number One: There Are No Rules

I LIVE IN A NEIGHBORHOOD that feels completely safe today, but the remnants of a time when it was not so safe remain in the form of reinforced doors and backyard security lights. The light from the security lamp of the house next door is so bright I can literally read by it, which I often do during the summer once the sun goes down and temperatures moderate. (Actually, the light is so bright I can read by it