• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Red Dirt Ramblings®

Red Dirt Ramblings®

Firmly rooted in the Oklahoma soil

  • Home
  • About Me
  • Garden Coaching
  • Contact
  • My Gardens
    • The Back Garden
    • The Potager
  • Show Search
Hide Search

Three garden resolutions

It is the beginning of the new year and time for resolutions I hear. Have you any for 2020? Here are three garden resolutions of mine.

Rudbeckia fulgida 'Goldsturm' needs a lot of editing in a moist garden.
Rudbeckia fulgida ‘Goldsturm’ needs a lot of editing in a moist garden. This year, I plan to rip it all out, but I’ll never get it all.

Remove overly-aggressive plants

1. Remove overly-aggressive plants like Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii ‘Goldsturm.’ Although this was a great plant in my garden when I watered with soaker hoses, it now takes over and crowds out other, more desirable plants. I blame its bad behavior on my having a better watering system. I’ve used drip irrigation since 2008. ‘Goldsturm’ is also only good for skipper butterflies in my garden. Bees like wood bees and honey bees don’t go near it. I am going to keep it in this one terrible part of the garden where very little water and clay soil remain. It’s near the air conditioner so the area is also very hot.
Beautiful ‘Becky’ shasta daisy, first hybridized by Luther Burbank.

Simplify my plant palette

2. Simplify my garden’s plant palette with more repetition and cohesiveness. This follows on the heels of removing ‘Goldsturm.’ Some of the plants I’m thinking of adding more of are Leucanthemum x superbum ‘Becky’ Shasta daisies. ‘Becky’ likes the same conditions as Rudbeckia fulgida, but forms clumps instead of spreading by runners. I also really like Amazing Daisies® ‘Banana Cream,’ a Proven Winners selection. Both of these varieties do not flop, and they seem impervious to wilt or bacterial leaf diseases. On the other hand, ‘Alaska’ flops. I am removing it from the garden this year too. I’m going to be brutal in my eradication efforts.
Leucanthemum × superbum ‘Banana Cream’ shasta daisy. It has turned from its original banana yellow to white as it does in summer.

Add even more nectar plants

3. Add more nectar plants for short-tongued bees like my honey bees. I already started this resolution in October when Bill and I sowed twenty-five pounds of wildflower seed in our upper pasture. When I walk around the upper pasture for exercise, I can see green sprouts where we tilled, then raked lightly and sowed the seed. We bought our seeds from American Meadows, and the ones we planted were the Texas & Oklahoma wildflower seed mix (10 lbs,) the All Perennial Wildflower Seed Mix (5 lbs.) and the Honey Bee Wildflower Seed Mix (10 lbs.) Let’s hope they continue to grow and then produce lots of nectar and pollen for my bees. I only got four jars of honey last year, but they were so sweet!

Actually, that’s not a bad haul for my second year of beekeeping. I thought the second year was ten times harder than the first. So many things I had to learn.

  • One of my honey bees on Salvia nemorosa ‘Cardonna.’
  • Salvia nemorosa ‘Rose Marvel’
  • My first honey from my bees in my second year of beekeeping.
  • A wonderful wildflower meadow with gaillardia and some type of salvia. I didn't enhance this photo. It really was that shade of blue.
    What I hope my meadow will look similar to next summer. A wonderful wildflower meadow with gaillardia and some type of salvia. I didn’t enhance this photo. It really was that shade of blue.

The bees loved Salvia nemorosa ‘Cardonna’ and ‘Rose Marvel.’ ‘Rose Marvel’ bloomed so hard last spring and summer that it about killed itself. I need to go out and check it for signs of life. I’ll let you know.

If you’d like to hear more of my resolutions and Carol’s too, listen to our latest podcast episode. You can catch the Gardenangelists wherever great podcasts are found.

By the way, I’ll be speaking at the Oklahoma City Home and Garden Show on January 17-19. I should have the full schedule in a few days. Look for more information on my Instagram, Facebook and Twitter profiles, and here on RDR too.

Happy New Year and Decade everyone! I can’t believe it’s 2020!

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Related

1 January, 2020 By Dee Nash

Filed Under: Gardening

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Donna Deming

    16 January, 2020 at 4:32 pm

    Hi Dee.
    Wow! Your 2020 garden resolutions come complete with Visuals…. as should be the case for a year such as 20/20!!! I love your garden already, but those are some great goals to add in. I look forward to seeing your wildflower meadow and love that you are into your 2nd year of bee keeping!
    My garden resolutions are:
    1. To continue to add more evergreens, so that my neighbors don’t hate my no grass front yard every winter. I live on a normal size lot in Edmond where my shrubs, perennials and grasses all look dead-ish and scraggly, when not in leaf and bloom.
    2. To add even more songbird friendly features. More fruiting small trees and shrubs.
    3. To change my backyard garden paths from curves to diagonals.
    4. To remove all clutter from my outdoor spaces. (Indoor, too…. truth be told.)

  2. Monika M

    3 January, 2020 at 9:27 am

    Hello Dee! Oh, I have many resolutions for new year! Not only associated with my life but also with my garden. Definitely it is time to lose a few kilograms so maybe the work in my garden will help me! This year seems to be busy for me because I want to build a greenhouse. I know it will be a challenge but it is high time to do it. I want to grow there some ususual plants like this one called kiwano https://gardenseedsmarket.com/kiwano-horned-melon-seeds-cucumis-metuliferus-13-seeds.html . I came across this last year but in the weather conditions I live in it is impossible to plant it in my garden. Greenhouse will be perfect! Wish me a luck!

    • Dee Nash

      8 January, 2020 at 4:29 pm

      Monika, I always wish you the best of luck with all of your resolutions!~~Dee

  3. Anonymous

    2 January, 2020 at 8:49 pm

    Looking at some past blogs, what do you have as an edging material around your vegetable garden. It appears to be some robust wood of sorts,,if so,,is it functional for you?

    • Dee Nash

      8 January, 2020 at 4:29 pm

      Actually, Anonymous, it’s dyed concrete blocks. Yes, it works great. Some of my other gardens have railroad ties.

  4. Linda Brazill

    2 January, 2020 at 3:04 pm

    Numbers one and two are the same on my list. Time to get real!

    • Dee Nash

      8 January, 2020 at 4:28 pm

      Oh Linda, I hope I find the time. LOL! ~~Dee

  5. Stacey

    2 January, 2020 at 8:45 am

    Dee, we have lived in this current house for three summers. We have an acre and a half so for the past summers we’ve had a wildflower area that grows beautifully. The problem is the dreaded Johnson grass that comes up in that area and gets to be six feet tall. Do you have any suggestions for eradicating the Johnson grass without killing everything else?

    • Dee Nash

      2 January, 2020 at 2:31 pm

      Hi Stacey, it is very difficult to completely eradicate this noxious weed. I have it in one of my older gardens, and although I use organic practices almost everywhere in my garden, I have spot sprayed glyphosate on this grass while shielding other plants with a large piece of cardboard. I only use a weed killer that has foam so I can see where I spray, and I use a pre-mixed formula. Before this strategy, I once hand digged all of it, but it was too much for me even in this one bed. I know this isn’t a great answer, but part of getting rid of this weed is killing its roots, and I came to the conclusion I had to spot spray. I’m sorry I don’t have a better solution.~~Dee

  6. Linda Lehmusvirta

    1 January, 2020 at 8:49 pm

    I love your resolutions, Dee! Your garden is already a lovely haven but I look forward to seeing what happens next! Hugs and Happy New Year, Linda

    • Dee Nash

      2 January, 2020 at 2:32 pm

      Hugs to you too Linda! Happy New Year. We’ll see how much I’m able to stick to the resolutions. Ha!~~Dee

  7. Denise Pugh

    1 January, 2020 at 7:13 pm

    Your garden is beautiful. I can’t wait to see posts of your wildflower meadow.

    • Dee Nash

      2 January, 2020 at 2:32 pm

      Thank you Denise! I hope it works. ~~Dee

  8. Lisa at Greenbow

    1 January, 2020 at 4:27 pm

    Your flower meadow sounds great. I hope it all works out for you and your bees. As to Garden Resolutions hmmmm. I have several items on my to do list that didn’t get done this past summer. I guess I will say that is what I will be doing. Nothing too exciting, like a flower meadow. I just think that sounds wonderful. I like the looks of that daisy too. I wonder if I have enough sun for it not to flop. I love daisies but haven’t found a variety that performs well for me. Happy New Year.

  9. Carol Henderson

    1 January, 2020 at 3:54 pm

    HA. HA. I can relate to that culling problem. For me it was the pink primroses that I nurtured, but then they took over. Keep reminding yourself that some will live even if you weed others.

  10. Gail Wynne

    1 January, 2020 at 3:29 pm

    In my experience you will need a backhoe to get rid of Rudbeckia Goldstrum! It has serious roots. Good luck.

    • Dee Nash

      2 January, 2020 at 2:33 pm

      Hi Gail, you are so right! I won’t ever get all of it. I’ll keep working on it though until they haul me out of here feet first. LOL!~~Dee

  11. Rochelle

    1 January, 2020 at 1:48 pm

    Thanks for the good information- I have a new flowerbed ready to plant and 2 new beautiful raised vegetable beds. I can’t wait to see pics of your wildflower meadow!

    • Dee Nash

      1 January, 2020 at 2:40 pm

      Hi Rochelle, fingers crossed it all works. We shall see. We’ve had the perfect winter for the seed to do its thing. Now, if we’ll just get some spring rains. We gardeners are always relying on the weather. Congrats on your new veggie beds. I loved raised beds to grow vegetables. They are so much easier to keep tidy.~~Dee

Primary Sidebar

About Dee

Hi, I’m Dee, a professional garden writer and speaker born and raised in Oklahoma. Here you’ll find all my best dirt on gardening and travel. Welcome!

Read More

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Subscribe Here To RDR Updates.


* indicates required
Email News
Email Format

Garden Coaching

Garden Coaching

Grow a beautiful and manageable garden with personalized pointers from Dee!

Learn More

Give my podcast a listen!

Our podcast logo! The Gardenangelists.

Search me baby!

Blogs I Dig

  • Clay and Limestone–TN
  • Cold Climate Gardening–NY
  • Each Little World
  • Growing With Plants
  • May Dreams Gardens–IN
  • Plant Postings–WI
  • Redeem Your Ground
  • Rock Rose–AZ
  • Toronto Gardens–Canada

Red Dirt Sisters

  • Curtiss Ann Matlock
  • The Not Always Lazy W

Footer

Copyright © 2023 · Privacy Policy Sitemap

Copyright © 2023 · Privacy Policy Sitemap

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
Cookie SettingsAccept
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT
 

Loading Comments...