There is a gardening "secret" so simple it is most often overlooked. This "secret" is one that every successful gardener knows and is indeed the complete reason for their success. Any gardening problem can be overcome and garden miracles WILL occur when this wisdom is seen, understood and applied. What is this wisdom? Very simply it is learning how to speak the language of plants. True communication with plants is the essential foundation for any gardener to learn, whether he be the caretaker of a garden that is small, grand, formal, or farm.
Plants are living beings like you and I. Like any living beings their are certain requirements, not just for their survival (those are actually the easiest to apply) but also requirements for their happiness and ability to thrive. They also as living beings have the ability to communicate and "speak" directly to any other being who interacts with them.
Here are some very direct things a plant will tell you:
- Whether or not it likes the conditions of its environment, and also how much.
- if it needs more or less care.
The key to learning and understanding the language of plants is to pay close attention to the plant itself. Strange as it may sound with careful attention you will come to know the plants and their language more and more. A common error that is made by many beginning gardeners is that they are afraid to establish that connection. They run for how-to books, expert opinion, and expensive solutions. What they do not understand is that all of that information has been gathered in the same way. Someone always had to observe a plant itself, or many and learn how to communicate. The problem though is that plants, like any living thing are all different and the ability to thrive or not requires individual communication. So reading a book or reading a plant marker will never substitute for learning their language. They cannot read and do not always understand the rules that might be attributed to them and there may be other factors involved. They WILL tell you.
There is another great advantage to learning plant communication. Plants love to surprise you and impress you with their ability to BREAK the rules. Sun, shade, space and all those "requirements' may all be adapted too by the plant itself. A great rule of thumb then is TRY IT. If your space and environment is limited, plant something beautiful and pay attention to it. Be gentle and observe and let it tell you hat it needs. You will then be very pleasantly surprised at how simple it all really is to help things grow. It really does not take much or your part accept the willingness to understand and the appreciation of it as a living and growing being. Be warned though, once you begin to learn to communicate, a lifelong friendship with plants of all kinds will probably emerge.