Gardening Plans for 2009

Optimism always pays off—and for us optimistic gardeners, Mother Nature was certainly on our side in 2008. What a blessing normal rainfall can be ...

As we embark on 2009, I thought it was the perfect time to share gardening plans for 2009.

TRENDS

Grow your own: Sustainable gardening is hot, especially with the lake and reservoir levels at normal levels. If you've got a sunny patch in your garden, try your hand at farming. Tomatoes, cucumbers, green beans, squash and zucchini, lettuce, potatoes ... all super easy for any level of gardener. It'll save you big bucks at the grocery and give you the satisfaction of a job well done.

Support your local farmers markets: If you're too busy to farm your own plot, or if you don't have a sunny spot for a vegetable patch, support your local farmers markets. Almost every community within the WRAL viewing area has a market, and most of those farms are owned and operated by local families. Most garden organically, and many of them support the WIC program. Some of my favorites are the Durham Farmers Market, the Apex Farmers Market, the Cary Farmers Market, and there's a great one in Wake Forest.

Go Green: even though gas prices are down and water levels are up, we still need to be enviornmentally conscientious. To some, it sounds like a broken record ... but the truth is still the same: we have to conserve energy, plant trees, shop with canvas bags, reduce our emissions, cut out harmful pesticides that pollute the water supply. Remember, the actions we take today to preserve the environment will pay off for our children and grandchildren.

Plant a tree: with temperatures and moisture levels up this week and next, you've still got time to plant a tree. Plus, my husband's a big believer in old wives tales ... so if the seagulls hanging out in parking lots here in the Piedmont are to be believed, snow is on the way. New trees in warmer ground with a fertilizer spike or two at the base benefit tremendously from snow and the slow, soaking that comes from the melt.

Plan your garden: although water levels were up in 2008, Mother Nature can be a finicky gal, so you need to hope for the best but prepare for the alternative. Plant tall-growing shrubs on the southern side of your house to provide shade in the heat of the day. Put in juniper as ground cover to reduce erosion and hold in water. Mulch in May so your roots will hold moisture in the soil over the summer.

Plant a container garden: eco-friendly terra cotta planters give your garden a new dimension of design. Of course they're good on the porch, spilling over with petunias and geraniums, but place them in unexpected areas, like under pine trees or in groupings with your shrubs. Pull volunteer sprigs of trees and plant them in your planters, then put those on your porch or deck. One of my favorite back deck planters is huge, with a volunteer dogwood we dug up three years ago. It's taller than me now, and really beautiful on the deck. In the fall and winter purple pansies grow low in the pot for color.

Put in a fountain: The peaceful trickle of water over a gentle fountain is restful and natural, and can be yours for a few dollars and a little labor. You don't need a giant koi pond in the backyard, adorned by giant boulders and sprays of tropical trees. Nope, you can put together a neat tabletop fountain using a birdbath basin, some garden stones and a small fish tank pump from the pet store. Designs are available in abundance on the Internet ... you've just got to add a little creativity.

MY OWN GARDEN PLAN

For the Sickles family, 2009 is the year of the revamped backyard. We are taking back our favorite space, with a vengeance. Between 2007's drought and our reluctance to do any heavy gardening for fear of killing it all, and our beloved Basset hound's death in May 2008, we didn't spend our usual amount of time in the backyard. This year we'll be building a new deck/patio area, refreshing some of the trees, adding a new walking path, and changing the shape of the garden bed.

• What plans and ideas do you have for 2009?