Qualities/Competence Areas for a Gardener

[_Keith]

This is question is a predessor to another question, maybe 2 more questions, but first this one.

As I try to list the areas of competence for a great gardener/garden, this is what I come up with. What say you?

1. Site preparation. (This is not picking a great site, we all have what we have for a number of reasons. This is about optimizing the site you have. Drainage, selective elimination, types and location of structures, etc.)

2. Soil preparation. (Now we are down to the planting hole level.

3. Plant selection. (The right plant for the right place)

4. Plant care (Watering, Feeding, Pest Control)

5. Aesthetics (Garden architecture, design, hardscape, composition, textures, color, groupings, views, style, harmony, emotional feel)

And these two some might consider optional, but I think they are important

5. Environmental Responsibility (sustainability, organic principles, composting, water management, runoff management, maximation of resources, etc.)

6. Social Responsibility (sharing knowledge, cultural interaction, engaging youth)

So, what are your opinions on what areas make up the Principle of Gardening.

[DoomsDave]

Rather like what makes a great cook; not so much the best stuff but making great with what you have.

A nice starting list, and food for more thought.

[LilikoiLee]

Aloha Keith,

I think your list is right-on, except I would probably put aesthetics before planting. Not sure how many people practice No 6 - social responsibility but I hope a lot of people do. Bo-Goran is stellar in this category; he spent an enormous amout of time educating us; as I am sure he has done with many other beginners, I hope your inclusion of social responsiblity will inspire other gardeners to practice it.

Lee

[Mauna Kea Cloudforest]

This is question is a predessor to another question, maybe 2 more questions, but first this one.

As I try to list the areas of competence for a great gardener/garden, this is what I come up with. What say you?

1. Site preparation. (This is not picking a great site, we all have what we have for a number of reasons. This is about optimizing the site you have. Drainage, selective elimination, types and location of structures, etc.)

2. Soil preparation. (Now we are down to the planting hole level.

3. Plant selection. (The right plant for the right place)

4. Plant care (Watering, Feeding, Pest Control)

5. Aesthetics (Garden architecture, design, hardscape, composition, textures, color, groupings, views, style, harmony, emotional feel)

And these two some might consider optional, but I think they are important

5. Environmental Responsibility (sustainability, organic principles, composting, water management, runoff management, maximation of resources, etc.)

6. Social Responsibility (sharing knowledge, cultural interaction, engaging youth)

So, what are your opinions on what areas make up the Principle of Gardening.

1. Site preparation. (This is not picking a great site, we all have what we have for a number of reasons. This is about optimizing the site you have. Drainage, selective elimination, types and location of structures, etc.)

I dig hole and throw palm in because I am lazy.

2. Soil preparation. (Now we are down to the planting hole level.

I just throw native soil back into the hole.

3. Plant selection. (The right plant for the right place)

Eh? If there is room, it goes in.

4. Plant care (Watering, Feeding, Pest Control)

I pee on my palms, does that count? Seriously, this is actually pretty high on my list, I fertilize often because of my poor sandy soil using good slow release fertilizer.

5. Aesthetics (Garden architecture, design, hardscape, composition, textures, color, groupings, views, style, harmony, emotional feel)

If it looks laid back and tropical, I'm good.

5. Environmental Responsibility (sustainability, organic principles, composting, water management, runoff management, maximation of resources, etc.)

As I said before, I pee on my plants.

6. Social Responsibility (sharing knowledge, cultural interaction, engaging youth)

I post on PalmTalk and some people get mad at me. Does that still count?

[doranakandawatta]

This is question is a predessor to another question, maybe 2 more questions, but first this one.

As I try to list the areas of competence for a great gardener/garden, this is what I come up with. What say you?

1. Site preparation. (This is not picking a great site, we all have what we have for a number of reasons. This is about optimizing the site you have. Drainage, selective elimination, types and location of structures, etc.)

2. Soil preparation. (Now we are down to the planting hole level.

3. Plant selection. (The right plant for the right place)

4. Plant care (Watering, Feeding, Pest Control)

5. Aesthetics (Garden architecture, design, hardscape, composition, textures, color, groupings, views, style, harmony, emotional feel)

And these two some might consider optional, but I think they are important

5. Environmental Responsibility (sustainability, organic principles, composting, water management, runoff management, maximation of resources, etc.)

6. Social Responsibility (sharing knowledge, cultural interaction, engaging youth)

So, what are your opinions on what areas make up the Principle of Gardening.

1. Site preparation. (This is not picking a great site, we all have what we have for a number of reasons. This is about optimizing the site you have. Drainage, selective elimination, types and location of structures, etc.)

I dig hole and throw palm in because I am lazy.

2. Soil preparation. (Now we are down to the planting hole level.

I just throw native soil back into the hole.

3. Plant selection. (The right plant for the right place)

Eh? If there is room, it goes in.

4. Plant care (Watering, Feeding, Pest Control)

I pee on my palms, does that count? Seriously, this is actually pretty high on my list, I fertilize often because of my poor sandy soil using good slow release fertilizer.

5. Aesthetics (Garden architecture, design, hardscape, composition, textures, color, groupings, views, style, harmony, emotional feel)

If it looks laid back and tropical, I'm good.

5. Environmental Responsibility (sustainability, organic principles, composting, water management, runoff management, maximation of resources, etc.)

As I said before, I pee on my plants.

6. Social Responsibility (sharing knowledge, cultural interaction, engaging youth)

I post on PalmTalk and some people get mad at me. Does that still count?

This is how I can learn from Palmtalk, with humoristic threads, and personal methods ,

Axel, all what you do counts a lot! (n°5 is very personal, but n°6 is really what we are glad to share on Palmtalk!)