Gardening challenges for 2008
Stopping to smell the flowers
Arlene Marturano marturanoa@ yahoo.com

A turn of a calendar page won't change the direction of a garden, but a new page for a new year gives opportunities to refresh and renew.

Water is a critical resource. Xeriscaping, the selection and placement of drought- tolerant plants in the landscape, reduces water usage.

Hydrozoning, the grouping of plants with similar water requirements, conserves water as well. Mulching soil around plants retains moisture, and drip irrigation is an efficient way to deliver water and nutrients to plants with minimal evaporation.

The rain barrel is an ancient idea with modern designs that catches flow from downspouts, and screened lids eliminate mosquito breeding problems. For every inch of rain falling on a 1,000- square- foot roof, 600 gallons of rainwater can be collected.

Soft rainwater can be used for indoor and outdoor plants, washing pets and vehicles. A rain garden receives and filters surface runoff within a shallow basin of water tolerant plants.

Each year homeowners purchase tons of topsoil for garden beds when they have the makings of soil at their fingertips. Fruit and vegetable peels and cores, eggshells, coffee grounds, tea leaves, sawdust, and pencil shavings added to grass clippings, and yard waste make heaps of humus for the garden with very little effort.

A soil test is an essential investment for a new garden. Winter is a good time to take a sample to the county extension office. A $6 soil test determines the amount of basic nutrients in the sample and the pH, if your soil is acidic or alkaline. Test results and recommendations for fertilizer and lime are mailed to you. Directions for taking a soil sample are found at: hgic.clemson.edu.

The 2007 opening of a farmer's market at Sandhills Research and Education Center brought another venue to support local growers.

Growing one's own food is better than buying from a grocery store. Not only does it produce fruit and vegetables high in vitamins and minerals, but the flavor is better. It's possible to grow food year- round in S.C.

While the home garden consumes much time, collaborating in community gardening projects can yield zest, knowledge and friendship.

Join other gardeners who green our city through Columbia Green, the Junior Master Gardener Program and horticulture volunteers at Riverbanks Botanic Garden, Master Gardener volunteers at the Carolina Children's Garden, and neighborhood garden club initiatives