Small Lots, Big Gardens

Gardening Tips from Tim Charney:

The key to gardening at Stapleton is to amend the soil like crazy. The soil out here is heavy clay and nothing will grow. When plants aren’t doing well people put more water on but the soil holds the water and the plants drown.

We’re on a corner so we have more space than many Stapleton homes. But you can do a lot with small space. We grow tomatoes, peppers and basil in a small space in the alley – and I almost always space annuals closer together than recommended. Remember to be aware of how large plants will get. Look for dwarf varieties.

I probably spend from 1-6 hours per week gardening, with more time in the early season and the biggest growing season. But if you don’t want to spend a lot of time, choose perennials that require less maintenance. Pay attention to when they bloom and time them so you’ll have flowers all summer long.

I like gardening and I have the time so I have annuals because they’re flashier and bloom all summer long. What I’m most proud of is the dahlias. I planted 24 in different shapes and colors, but you have to bring them in after the first hard freeze. You dry them and pack them in peat moss over the winter in a space that’s not too hot and not too cold – a crawl space is perfect. Last year I packed them in vermiculite in ice chests in my garage.