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illpaleantologist t1_iso6m05 wrote

Gardening in a nutshell here. There’s no green thumb. You just learn by doing and reading and experience.

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nestcto t1_ispxc9x wrote

I've always been told I have a green thumb.

Turns out, I just know how to neglect plants the exact right amount. Plants hate being bothered, and once their core needs are met, they just want to be left alone and not touched.

The more I learn, the more I find that finely targeted neglect seems to be the key to successful plant care. Obviously some plants need more neglect than others. Experience, trial and error allow you to learn how to disregard them properly.

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illpaleantologist t1_isqnf70 wrote

I can certainly understand this and I agree. Some, aloe for example, are absolutely better off ignored. Watered almost never. Maybe once every 3 weeks. I recommend reading as much Vita Sackville West as possible, she’s so excellent at explaining about various wants and needs of plants. I firmly believe in starting a plant tree or shrub out properly and then getting out of the way, for the most part. Plenty of garden walks and observation to make sure various things aren’t bothering them - my dog digging a hole in their roots, a heavy branch lying over their limbs, etc. I’ve gardened/landscaped our little plot here, only .5 acre, alone, all work done by me. No hired help except we will hire to get large trees trimmed. We hired to have 16 honeysuckle s shrubs removed, but nothing else. All me, an older person, has done the work and it’s only possible because I mulch, leaves go down crushed up in beds, trimmings are composted, and many native shrubs, perennials and trees are used which can basically take care of themselves and are accustomed to the lack of water and weather here, where they’ve evolved. I have plenty of ornamentals and veg that do need coddling but I have less and less time for them.

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