Resolutions and motivations for local gardening

For most of January and February, it's too cold or wet or otherwise disagreeable to be outside, but that doesn't mean gardeners have to give up their favorite hobby completely.

Tim Holcomb of Holcomb Garden Centers has prepared a list of Gardener's Resolutions for 2018 that can give you hope for warmer weather.

"I've done them [Gardener's Resolutions] for the past two or three years," says the horticulture veteran, whose family company is now half a century old, giving him a vast array of knowledge to draw upon.

"My dad started the business in 1967, and my two brothers and I have carried it on from there. It started as a feed store and we developed into the garden centers."

Holcomb says basic gardening tips make up two-thirds of the list, but each year he tries to add something new or noteworthy.

"Our goal is to promote horticulture and plants," he says, adding that good gardening and lovely landscaping are contagious. "It's something neighbors enjoy. It benefits the whole community. When you see two or three neighbors out working in their yard, soon the whole subdivision steps it up a little bit."

Here's an edited version of his recommendations for gardeners (see the full list at www.holcombgc.com), along with a few indoor classes to see you through to spring.

Tim Holcomb's Gardener's Resolutions for 2018

» Get inspired. Google lovely garden images. Now plan on creating a lovely garden spot at your home or re-create the whole landscape into a lovely garden. Bring in pictures of your dream garden, along with pictures of your current garden with dimensions, to let the experts guide your way.

» Do not let weeds get out of hand before taking efforts to control them. The old saying "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" is very true for weed control. Most weeds can be easily prevented much easier than trying to control them at maturity. Ask about weed and grass prevention for gardens, landscapes and lawns.

» Use mulches in flowerbeds, vegetable gardens and in the landscape. In the landscape, mulch is the icing on the cake as far as completing a wonderful look. Beyond just looks, mulching helps control weeds, conserves moisture during dry times and adds organic matter back to the soil. Choose natural mulches that complement your landscape or garden.

» Get your soil tested. Having the proper pH level in your soil will help plants flourish. Not having the proper pH level means your plants cannot benefit from the food you give them as it becomes chemically tied up in the soil and not available to the plants.

» Plant a pollinator garden. Honeybees and butterflies have fewer food options than ever before. Make it a point to plant flowers, trees and shrubs that benefit bees and butterflies. They will have food, and we can enjoy the benefits of honey, pollination and watching the butterfly show.

» Grow something you can eat this year. This can be as simple as fresh herbs and vegetables to blueberries and fruit trees. Grapes, berries and fruit planted this year will provide years of wonderful, home-grown flavor for years to come.

» Visit at least one public garden in the region. Consider Birmingham Botanical Gardens in Alabama, Georgia's Atlanta Botanical Gardens and Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain and the University of Tennessee Trial Gardens in Knoxville. Editor's note: The Atlanta Botanical Garden's annual Flower Show is scheduled Feb. 23-25.

» Show a child the wonders of gardening. Share the excitement of a fairy garden, growing and eating a cherry tomato or planting a fruit tree to grow up with. Plant the seed of horticulture and unleash a lifetime of gardening joys.

» Take time to smell the roses. Yes, the word gardening is a verb meaning work, but it provides a sense of oneness with the Earth, it provides exercise, and it benefits birds, bees and butterflies. Landscaping increases home values, and shade trees help cool our homes in the summer. Breathe in the fragrance of a fresh-mowed lawn, taste the fruit of your labor and relax in the shade of a tree. Life is good. Enjoy it.