DIY Network

Successful Garden Doesn't Mean Constant Attention

Master gardener Joe Lamp'l, host of Fresh from the Garden, explains how to achieve a successful garden.

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The pristine TV garden and the thriving home garden don't have to be different. With the proper foundation in place, gardens can do quite well without a lot of constant attention.

You can have a thriving garden and relax, too

By Joe Lamp'l

It's been a while since I gardened purely for the sheer joy. Don't get me wrong; gardening is always a pleasure to me. It's just that when you have to do it for a national TV audience, the stakes are a bit different.

When you create a garden simply for your own desire, the pace at which you choose to prep, plant and prune is simply a matter of choice. The biggest demands are the ones you put on yourself. If you hate bugs, who's going to object if you drench your garden and soil with a potion of pesticides so deadly even your plants barely survive. Plant diseases can be treated, or not, with whatever concoction you choose to use. The bottom line is that successes, failures and experience are only a matter of public record if you choose to make them so. That can be liberating.

On the other hand, when gardening for television, convenience and leisure are replaced by attention to a strict routine. Deep soil preparation is not an option--it's required. Mulching is a must for the sake of plant survival and for teaching smart gardening principles. As for pests and disease control, I'd never think of using strong chemicals as a first or only line of defense, nor would I advocate this approach to my viewers.

Therefore, my daily routine always includes an early morning patrol. Without close attention, a garden environment could become a battle zone and one that can quickly drive you to the losing side.

I also lose the luxury of convenience because I don't live where I garden for television. During two years of taping Fresh From the Garden, my one-way trip to the set was 65 miles. And I've had to make several extra emergency trips simply to protect plants from a fast-approaching storm or subfreezing weather.

There is, as you can see, no margin for error in a TV garden, and failure is not an option. Plants must be protected, for they and not the gardener are the stars of the show.

Still, the pristine TV garden and the thriving home garden don't have to be different. The same steps apply to both. It comes down to planning, preparation and patience.

Any garden should have great soil if it is to thrive. Most gardens don't start out this way. We make them so. To me, it's the most important step in the overall success of a garden.

With the proper foundation in place, gardens can do quite well without a lot of constant attention. If watering is applied appropriately and you are in touch with your garden, a happy medium between a healthy thriving garden and a relaxing pace can be achieved.

And, truth be told, my TV garden doesn't always actually require all the attention it receives. The gardening principles that make for a self-sustaining garden are in place there, too. What's good for the TV garden is great for the home garden; neither requires a brutal pace. I simply do it to keep my producer happy.

(Joe Lamp'l, a master gardener, hosts DIY's Fresh from the Garden as well as a gardening radio show. For more information, visit www.joegardener.com.)

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