How to keep on top of everything

[Nikki Arnold]

With some of the busiest (and hardest) months still yet to come in the gyo calendar it is not surprising that a few of us might be feeling a little overwhelmed by the thought of weeds to hoe, crops to sow, seedlings to transplant, not to mention all of that watering and feeding!!!!

That's why this month we're asking for your top tips on how to stay organised and keep your cool when there are lots of jobs to do in the garden (or plot) all at the same time - all advice welcome!








*Please note your comments may be edited and published in the June issue of Grow Your Own

[Bigmallly]

I would think you can either plan what & when you want to do certain tasks, or just get stuck in little & often so as not to overdo it & spoil the enjoyment.

[Tripmeup]

I use my trusty To Do app on my phone for the urgent stuff. That and a general look around my garden to see what's there and what's not...yet!!

However I would never consider it as "keeping on top of it" as that makes it sound like a chore, which it certainly isn't...

[Shadylane]

I make lists. It makes my head feel less full and confused. Sooner or later the list will get discarded with maybe half off the things ticked off and a new list will be made. And to be honest, I never keep on top of it all. There's always too much to do. I hardly ever dust

[horticultural_hobbit]

I also list. Else I will forget. It is on the phone though. Can delete things as they happen. If I don't write it down, it won't happen. Help to keep things in order and on task. Might take me a while to do the things, but they do get done.

[mothhawk]

This year my plan is to write out ALL my seed labels before I so much as open a packet. That way I have a label to hand to mark the seed tray/row, instead of labouring under the misconception that I will remember what's in which tray or row. I always forget, since I appear to have a mind similar to a garden sieve, everything shakes out except the rubbish.

Been to Wilko's and bought coloured craft lolly sticks plus plain longer seedling lolly sticks so I can make fab labels like Twosheds

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...labels-007.jpg

[Piggle]

I plant and sow by the moon which makes it easy to plan what I should be doing when , I make lists in on my lunar calander for the month ahead so I don't forget what to do.

Apart from that I would say from experience that sitting on your hands and not doing things too early is very important , things have a habit of catching up anyway.

I spend much more time caring for my soil and it seems the plants then are more able to care for themselves.

[Snadger]

Mulch paths with woodchip on top of weeds....they soon give up. Mulch beds with straw, FYM,,leaf mould, cardboard, compost,spent mushroom compost,or something organic, whatever comes to hand to cut down on weeding!

[zazen999]

A - do your work in the winter then you are streets ahead in the spring so whilst everyone else is desperately digging beds over to be ready you can just concentrate on getting your seedlings and seeds sorted out.
B - Mulch mulch mulch.
C - Use chalk pens to write on the sides of pots [it easily wipes off but lasts through rain] and only worry about actual labels once they are in their final position.

[veggiechicken]

I don't even try to keep on top of everything. So I'm a bit late sowing or weeding, they'll catch up. Its a hobby not a career and, at the end of the week, my pay won't be docked because I failed to "keep on top of things". Just relax and enjoy it! If I ever "feel overwhelmed" by gardening, its time to stop.

[Aberdeenplotter]

It's little and often, preferably very often. I'm in my plot for an hour every morning monday to friday and an other hour after work. I have three half plots so there's a lot going on but it's never a struggle especially when the first flush of weeds has been sorted out.

[VirginVegGrower]

I list everything on my iPhone, but I also have a planning tool, a whiteboard in the greenhouse and a book, detailing my daily diary, what varieties I'm sowing this year, listed by veg type and by family. It's a case of keeping all balls juggling. I have a succession plan behind my initial plan. Lunar sowing keeps me fairly disciplined, sane and organised.
Can you tell I worked in project management?

[Potstubsdustbins]

As I grow everything in containers my weeding consists of nipping them out as I walk round the garden for pleasure.

To be successful when growing in containers you have to be organised. My year starts at the end of the season riddling and storing used compost for the next year.

Come December its time to bring together the seed catalogues, my gardening log and this years calender. I make notes on the calender as I order my seed, the calender then lives in my potting leanto to be used as a daily aide-memoire.

After that its a little and often, very often if I have my way. The garden is never a chore always a pleasure.

Colin

[Pa Snips]

I just accept that chaos is the natural order of things

[Ian_5]

look for whatever is on the verge of giving up the ghost and then attempt to resuscitate... not exactly proactive but all that time allows