How to Avoid the Plant Ghetto

What is the Plant Ghetto? It's the dirty little corner that home gardeners across the world have in common. The neglected collection of nursery purchases we just had to have. If you've ever found yourself with a cartload of plants that you bought, even though you knew you didn't have a single place to plant anything, this is the self-help guide for you.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Garden tools for planting.
• Time.
• A willingness to change.

1. 
    
   Plant Ghetto

   The first thing you have to do is clean out the Ghetto. That means taking each plant or bag of unplanted bulbs and individually scrutinize the product. Put your plant on a table, one at a time, and ask yourself: where do you belong in my garden?

2. Follow through, right now. Take your shovel and go plant that one plant. Help that little guy get off to a good start by amending the planting hole with some compost. Make sure you've read the tag and you're planting it in a location with the appropriate sun and space requirements. The plant has probably been sitting around for a while, prune off the dead stuff and water him in.

3. Repeat step 1 and 2 until... you get stuck. You've planted everything in the Ghetto that you can realistically find a space for, but you still have a small collection left. Ask yourself why you're hanging on to these plants that don't belong in your garden? Are you trying to nurture a plant back to life? You should check out an eHow article on how to make compost, because that little plant can go into the compost pile and bring nutrients to a whole bunch of plants. Are you saving that plant because it's a sentimental thing (Mother's Day present, a friend gave it to you; you dug it out of your childhood garden...)? Listen! You don't have the space for this plant! Give it a good home, let someone else have it. Better yet, take your shovel and soil amendment and go plant it for them. Don't forget to water. One more question for the plant saver: Are you hanging on to that plant because you're a cheapskate and you can't justify spending money on something you need to throw away? So now you pathetically hang on to that "twig in a pot" even though you know you have no intention of EVER planting it? I thought so; I have 2 words for you: Compost Pile.

4. 
    
   Charming plant combo

   Next step (NOPE! do not get in your car and buy more plants). Clean up the former Plant Ghetto. Sweep out every nook-and-cranny. Hose the surface off. Think of a better way you could be using this garden space. Could you put one nice big pot full of colorful annuals in this corner? You already know you'll water it, since you've been regrettably watering the Ghetto for so long. Is this the perfect space to start that compost pile? Can you hang a string of garden lights and set up a bistro set with comfy, welcoming chairs and colorful cushions?

5. The final step, after you've rid yourself of the Plant Ghetto. You've turned that space into a usable area of your garden. You might even feel relaxed and centered now that you don't have that ugly mess that had turned into a nasty chore. You are ready for the nursery! Take a look around at your garden. If you have a few spaces to fill, make a list. Take the list to the nursery and only shop from the list. That nagging feeling of flower temptation will come to you. Take a moment to visualize your new and clean garden space. You love that it's usable, so don't even think about cluttering it up. Pass up the mark down table, that area is the nurseries very own Plant Ghetto; you don't want to inherit their problem children. Step back for a minute and observe the people shopping in that Plant Ghetto. Don't they look a little miserable? Dark circles under their eyes, unwashed clothing, and stringy hair? That's because they have a giant Plant Ghetto at home and it's sucking the life out of them. Look at yourself, you're bright and cheery and free! Stick to your list and just walk away.

6. Take your purchases home and plant them today. Don't give yourself any excuses to wait.

Tips & Warnings

• Congratulations.
• Don't let yourself relapse with someone else's plant divisions. Simply tell them you don't have any space left to plant. Don't feel bad for a minute; they're just trying to unload their Plant Ghetto onto you.

[StacyP]

on 1/21/2009 Ha, plant ghetto is something I've had in my garden, but just didn't know there was a name for the unsightly mess.

[veryirie]

on 10/25/2008 This was a very enjoyable read. It was kinda like when you have to declutter your house. I have a plant ghetto, but I didn't know that was the name for it. Compost pile....a great idea. Thanks!

[terrijohnson]

on 7/30/2008 Great article! 5 stars!

[xtraordinary]

on 7/23/2008 YES!!! I love this article, great advice! I've found that once I get on a roll planting this stuff, I end up having a lot of fun...it's just the procrastination before actually starting! 5 stars!

[Hapworth]

on 7/18/2008 I like the title. Great suggestions.