Whether you love digging in the dirt, planting seeds and reaping the bounty that bursts forth, or find the whole idea of gardening intimidating, this spring offers the promise of a fresh start. Growing flowers, vegetables, herbs or anything else need not be endlessly fussy or take up your entire Saturday. As an avid gardener, I’m not opposed to a little sweat, but I much prefer working smart and keeping things easy. Here’s a quick guide to minimise your effort and maximise your joy
What if I have no idea where to start?
When I moved to my current garden, I got a wonderful blank slate, but the beds looked eerily sparse. To create an immediate feeling of “presence,” I planted some scented-leaf pelargoniums (sometimes called scented geraniums). These shrubby plants are a good starting point, as they grow quickly in a variety of home garden landscapes without lots of attention, and their fragrant leaves come in a vast range of colours, sizes and shapes. I put them all over the garden that first spring and summer—in pots, around my newly planted (but spindly) shrubs, and as a temporary hedge surrounding my new little
