How To Keep Your Garden And Plants Healthy (As A Time-Strapped Solo)
Hello from Pep Talk. In this post, I take a look at the plant lovers among us and what to do when your busy solo life threatens the lives of your green-leaved friends.
Let’s face facts, living alone, while a liberating experience, is also not an easy lifestyle to manage. Now you’re free of housemates and family, you’ve to carry your entire household by yourself, from finances and doing the chores. It’s a lot.
If you’re green fingered, with a love for plants and gardening, how are you going to take care of your leafy friends when you can barely do that for just you? Let’s took into this topic more closely.
They’re Not Just Plants
Some solos might argue that giving plants such a spotlight is a bit overdone. I mean, it’s not like we’re talking animals here, right?
If you’d left your dog without anything to eat for just a day, we’d quickly hear about it - due to all the incessant howling that will disturb your neighbours. Animal services might even be at your door, or a very cross landlord at the least.
But if you forget to water a few geraniums, then it’s not the end of the world, no? If that were true. When you’re a plant lover, it’s not just the end of the world, if your green companions die; it’s a disheartening feeling, like letting someone down.
The daily sight of an overgrown lawn or dying houseplants can lead to feelings of shame and disorder. You know you’re the cause of their suffering. An unkempt garden can quickly turn into a breeding ground for weeds and pests, and is also not good optics, if you live in a street of well-kept lawns.
The lack of housemates means you’ve got no one around to share the load of plant care. Nurturing your green friends rests solely on your shoulders.
I remember one time, having to comfort a friend in Berlin, who lives alone, sobbing at the sight of his dying plants he’d forgotten to water after being away for a week due to a family emergency. He’d been in such a rush to leave, he hadn’t ask any friends to cover for his plants. There’d also been a brief heatwave in his absence, suffocating even the most low-maintenance of plants, such as pothos.
Organising Your Fingers
To accommodate the task of effective plant care so it fits well into your solo schedule, you need to simplify all the tasks involved. Breaking down larger tasks into manageable steps will help you stay in control and avoid overwhelm. Here are some tips to help you succeed, based on the type of garden (outdoor or indoor) you own.
Outdoor Haven
For solos lucky enough to have a garden, the time required to maintain it when alone might actually surprise you.
Lawn-mowing: On average, mowing a small lawn takes around 20 to 30 minutes. Make sure you invest in a quality lawnmower that's easy to move around. Mow in straight lines, overlapping each pass slightly, and alternate mowing directions with each session.
As a general rule, mowing should be done once a week during the growing season, to prevent any excessive growth that would otherwise need more attention.
Plant tasks: If mowing the lawn doesn’t seem to take long, other green tasks aren’t as big as they seem either. Pruning leaves and tending to plants can take roughly 20 minutes to do, while preparing the soil and planting new seeds might require an additional 15 minutes.
You also need to make sure you have all the right tools in place for effective lawn care. These include a lawnmower, pruning shears, a spade, a rake, and a watering can.
Low-maintenance gardening: Choosing the right plants to garden can help you reduce your workload. Succulents and ornamental grasses are two such plants. Succulents can be watered sparingly and thrive well with well-draining soil. Ornamental grasses don’t need a lot of pruning and provide a simple touch to your garden.
Indoor Oasis
If your rental doesn't boast a garden, indoor plants can fill your living space with life and tranquility.
Be aware that houseplants can die quickly, even within a week. Being indoors means they’re subject to artificial conditions such as lack of light, lack of fresh air, and movement shock (when you move a plant about). Some houseplants require specific humidity levels to thrive. Leaving the heating on or placing them near a sunlit can lead to rapid leaf drying, browning, or curling.
Effective care: Houseplant care involves tasks such as watering, pruning, and repotting (when a plant’s roots outgrow their pot), all of which can be easily integrated into your day, since they take less time to do than maintaining a lawn. You also need a watering can, pruning shears, a spray bottle for misting, and potting soil, none of which take up much space.
Regular hydration: Grouping your plants together can create an environment where humidity is evened out between them. Make sure to water plants thoroughly before you leave home, to ensure they start with a full reservoir
Strategic plant placement: Place your houseplants near windows that receive adequate sunlight and rotate them occasionally for even growth. Make sure it’s adequate sunlight rather than direct sunlight; you don’t want them toasting at your window. Avoid placing these near temperature extremes, such as radiators or drafty windows.
Green + Solo
Balancing plant care with daily solo chores will be doable thanks to time allocation. Some tasks, such as watering, can be spread throughout the week in small increments. Set an alarm reminder on your phone for the various tasks you need to do every week, so you don’t forget. Reserve weekends for more intensive tasks such as changing pots or fertilising.
If your plants show signs of distress, such as yellowing or wilting, fix these issues quickly. Research the specific needs of your plants and adjust care accordingly.
Improving your plant care skills doesn’t have to be a time-consuming one. Give yourself a few minutes each day to research plant care tips online. Get involved with online gardening communities for insights from fellow gardeners.
Green Thumbs Up
Solo living, with its endless (and sometimes tedious) responsibilities, shouldn’t deter you from creating a vibrant green oasis. By adopting a proactive mindset, you can turn your home into a place of relaxing and natural beauty. The journey of nurturing nature is not just a responsibility, but one that rests squarely on your shoulders, since delegation is now out of the question. Doing so can be a rewarding act that helps enhance and build your solo digs.
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