by Susan Klatz Beal

Created on: October 01, 2010   Last Updated: January 07, 2012

When you are awestruck by the sight of a beautiful garden, you may wonder how it is possible for a garden to look so lush or healthy. You may even wonder what the gardener does or what they use to make the garden so beautiful. They may not have any magic product or recipe for what they do. Sometimes it is simply a question of learning to speak the language of plants, because by doing so, you can learn to communicate with your garden.

Watching plants and seeing how they react to the conditions in the garden, to the care you give them and to the elements over which you have no control are all things that you can do to learn to recognize the things that plants typically silently communicate with their caregivers. Sometimes this may also mean that you'll need to learn to recognize the signs of disease or the symptoms of an insect or pest attack.

• Observe the  plants in your garden on a daily basis 

Not all plants will have the same needs in different growing zones or different climates. Likewise, two places that may technically be in the same growing zone may have drastically different climates. Watch your plants to see whether they need water more often. Different soil types can change the water and fertilizer needs of plants quite significantly.

Make sure you are aware of insect and pest problems because that can wreak havoc on not only the plant that is being attacked, but other plants around it. If you are careful about dealing with insect and pest problems, you can prevent these pesky creatures from destroying your plants and/or your garden.

• Learn to be flexible 

Many people decide that they really love a certain plant or flower. They may love that plant or flower so much that they continue to plant it year after year, even though it doesn't grow well in the place or climate in which they planted it. In order to have a really great garden, you have to discover what works and what doesn't. If something doesn't work, give up and look for another plant that may be more suited to the growing conditions.

• Learn to understand your plants' other needs

If you grow perennials, those perennials are going to need to be divided every few years. Even bulbs may need to be divided. It is important that you learn when to divide your plants and how to do it in such a way as to minimize the trauma to the plant and to ensure that the mother plant and the new divisions adapt to their new growing space as easily as possible.

While plants can't speak to people with words, the way they react to their surroundings and the care you give them can speak volumes. A garden is a labor of love and it requires a lot of care and maintenance. When it is properly cared for and maintained, the plants will speak to you by showing you how beautiful and healthy can be. Communication with plants involves learning to see what they need, what is troubling them and learning to figure out what is preventing the plant or plants from healthy growth and appearance.

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