All I want for Christmas this year is rain, more rain, healthy soil, and a biodiverse garden! But, just in case you can’t put that in my stocking, here is a list of what I need and want.
Some of the most helpful items would be:
- A Japanese Hori-Hori digging tool/knife to weed and to divide my perennials;
- Hand pruners—both small and cross-cut types;
- Loppers to thin the larger bushes and to rid my perennials of dry and/or diseased branches;
- A rake, because its good exercise and gas blowers mainly produces dust and noise;
- Several bags of mulch to keep my plants moist;
- A wheelbarrow or cart;
- A compost bin;
- And, a small container for the kitchen in which to contain my vegetable and fruit scraps destined for composting.
I have noticed many robins and blue scrub jays using the birdbath you gave me last year. May I please have another one for my backyard? I also need a broad-brimmed hat, gardening gloves, and a carrier for my tools. A gardener’s apron with sizable pockets would be very useful, too.
Oh, Santa, there are so many books that I need. I want to learn more about how to reduce my carbon footprint, nourish healthy soil, and create a biodiverse garden. In view of that, I will need a square-foot gardening book to get started with a vegetable garden. Because I want my garden to be a sustainable and natural habitat for pollinators, a book that lists native and nonnative plants that are bee-friendly and drought tolerant. My goal is to have at least eight species blooming in the garden at any one time. I also need to learn more about conserving water during these dry times. One way to achieve that goal would be to convert to a drip system, so please include a book about irrigation.
A few other ideas:
- Garden labels with pens and stakes
- Self-watering spikes for my pots when I’m away
- Tool organizer bag
- Soil moisture meter
- Garden Kneeler with seat for my knees
- Multi-digger spading fork
- Garden sleeves for UV sun protection
- A pretty, decorative rain gauge
- Wind chimes
- Garden hand rake
- Soil pH meter
- Garden weeder hand tool
- Repotting mat for mess control
- Gardener’s hand cream and pumice soap
- Japanese ninja claw rake and cultivator
- Gift certificate to my favorite nursery so I can indulge in new plants!
- Our local farmers’ market is bursting with healthy produce, including vegetables, fruits, baked goods, honey and olives. I need a nice large basket, or perhaps even some canvas bags, in which to carry my purchases home from the market.
If I get confused or need more information about home gardening during these dry times, I know that the UC Master Gardeners of Tulare-Kings have a table at Farmers’ Markets throughout Tulare and Kings Counties with information and advice for me, along with many other events (listed in our e-newsletter! Sign up online!).
Thank you so much, dear Santa. I hope that you and Mrs. Claus have a very happy holiday!
This column is not a news article but the gardening advice and opinion of the writer, and does not reflect the views of Mid Valley Times newspaper.
