Show #122 - Garden Resolutions for a Smarter, Healthier Garden

Great gardens don’t happen by accident — they happen by intention, timing, and knowledge. These 12 garden resolutions create stronger plants, healthier soil, and better long-term results for lawns, landscapes, and trees.

Resolution 1: Measure Your Water

All plants need 1 inch of water per week
Irrigation schedules must change with heat and drought
A rain gauge is the only accurate way to know

Spring irrigation schedules rarely meet summer needs. Measure — don’t guess.

Resolution 2: Be a Smarter Garden Consumer

Always read the “box of truth”:

Slow-release nitrogen percentage
Trace elements included
Actual grass seed content (not inert filler)

Never pay for bags filled with air, fillers, or salt.

Resolution 3: Stop Using Liquid Fertilizers

Liquid fertilizers:

Are diluted 256×
Contain no slow-release nitrogen
Lack trace elements

Granular fertilizers like Garden Trust, Plant Trust, and Start-n-Grow give plants texture, strength, and longevity.

Resolution 4: Use Organics as a Supplement

Organics add diversity, not power
High-octane fertilizers provide energy
Together they create balance

Organics alone feed survival — not peak performance.

Resolution 5: Mulch Everything

Mulch is daily survival, not decoration:

Houseplants
Vegetable gardens
Raised beds and containers

Use 100% bark mulch, not dyed grindings or blends. Bark should touch the trunk — just like nature.

Resolution 6: Improve Soil the Right Way

Use composted bark (Clay Cutter) for clay soils
Choose coir-based soils, not peat moss
Coir lasts 5+ years and manages water better

FoxFarm Salamander Soil and Coco Loco are ideal choices.

Resolution 7: Learn Humates & Mycorrhizae

Humates increase nutrient uptake by 50%
Mycorrhizae act like software for roots
Espoma Bio-Tone contains both

These are foundational to modern plant success.

Resolution 8: Use Moisture Mizer

Moisture Mizer:

Stores excess water
Pulls water from surrounding soil
Reduces water stress

Perfect for crepe myrtle, hibiscus, gardenia, annuals, and containers. Roots Bio-Packs combine humates + mycorrhizae + Moisture Mizer for planting success.

Resolution 9: Discover Wilt-Pruf

Wilt-Pruf:

Covers 100% of sprayed surfaces
Protects beneficial insects
Extends spray life for weeks
Allows immediate seeding after weed control

It’s also a deer repellent enhancer and anti-desiccant.

Resolution 10: Organize the Landscape

Put sun plants in sun
Shade plants in shade
Plan now — not mid-spring

A landscape designer saves years of mistakes and wasted effort.

Resolution 11: Understand the Power of Lime

Without lime, you lose 71% of fertilizer effectiveness
Essential for lawns and vegetables
Tomatoes should be planted into hydrated lime

Soil pH controls everything.

Resolution 12: Plant One Tree

A $50–$100 investment
Grows to $20,000+ in value
Improves air, soil, carbon storage, and beauty

Planting a tree is a graduate course in horticulture — and stewardship.

Seasonal Timing Matters

Winter is ideal for irrigation installs
Tree work is best in the off-season
Mulching now insulates roots
Fertilize before mulching for maximum benefit

Gardening is about doing the right thing at the right time.

Winter Garden & Home Checklist

Avoid salt ice melt — use magnesium chloride
Leave seed heads for birds
Clean gutters and prevent erosion
Sharpen and maintain tools
Prepare now to free time for spring

Seed Starting Essentials

Use dome-covered trays
FoxFarm Light Warrior soil
Add humates or mycorrhizae
LED lights 5–6” above seedlings
13 hours on, 11 hours off

Better soil, better light, better starts.