How I Refresh My Farmhouse Gardens
Welcome back!
With the temperatures rising (oh, so slowly) and signs of life beginning to peak through my flower beds, all I can think about is tending to my farmhouse gardens! But, before that can happen, I need to do my favorite kind of “spring cleaning” and get my flower beds refreshed and ready to bloom! The beautiful farmhouse gardens are one of my favorite parts of our 1923 farmhouse. Just look at these beautiful colors from last fall!
Keep reading for my favorite tips to help your gardens thrive!
Where Do I Start?
Journals are not just for organizing your thoughts. Maintaining gardening journals is one of my favorite things to do! I keep a yearly garden journal to track our farmhouse gardens. This is so beneficial because I can easily recall what worked and what did not from the years before. When I want to try something new, I know how to keep everything else the same so that I can see how it works! So much of gardening is beyond your control- I’m looking at you, Mother Nature. Being able to keep things consistent is key.
Next up, I pace off the garden areas. I sketch the perennials who make their triumphant return to our farmhouse gardens each year along with the annuals who will be planted in the Spring. Something that is important to me is shopping locally! I love to frequent local garden centers to find something new. One of my favorites is Sisters Garden and Bloom in Kalona! Here is a glimpse at my plan for the 2025 growing season! One of my favorite farmhouse gardens that we maintain, off the east side of our 100-year-old red barn.
I love each month of the growing season! We enjoy our gardens until the very last frost. Even through October, our gardens looked glorious!
Choose Your Materials Wiseley
I prefer to invest in high quality materials that can be used for years! Just like a chef’s kitchen utensils, these are the tools that make the end result so much better. Dull pruning shears will never give you what you need. This week we are dusting off our clogs and gloves, sharpening those shears, and working the gardens. Between the hoes, rakes, and Dane’s tiller- they will be in tiptop shape soon enough!
There is so much to look forward to this growing season, and I hope you are inspired to create something magical!
