Master Gardening Tips from the Champion Forest Garden Club in Texas

For those of you who don't know the Champion Forest Garden Club, they are a group of gardening women who do so many things for this Texas community. From raising money with nut sales to sponsoring scholarships, this is a group that really cares about Champion Forest. They offer tours of the community's beautiful backyards, and each month award the "Yard of the Month" to some amazing homeowner. All the money raised by the Champion Forest Garden Club goes directly back into the community. And in addition, they are terrific gardeners! Each month the Garden Club meets and has a program that offers tips and ideas for improving your gardening skills. This month their guest was Scott Vann from Sundance Earthscapes, who shared his experience and ideas on creating the components of a terrific garden right here in Champion Forest, Texas. (The Champion Forest Garden Club and Sundance Earthscapes are responsible for some of those gorgeous esplanades you drive by.) For tips and information on what makes up a beautiful garden, read on.

Soil Composition Tips. According to Scott, if you don't have good soil, don't buy plants! Soil is what feeds your garden, holds the water your garden needs, supports your plants, and helps you design your garden. Don't just purchase any old soil for your Champion Forest, Texas garden, as some supply stores will sell you soil with sewer sludge and other components you don't want. Look for organic, enriched soil, which many local Houston, Texas retailers will deliver right to your garden! And be sure to use only organic fertilizers, as well as compost, in your Champion Forest garden.

A Note About Composting. As members of the Champion Forest Garden Club noted, if you are a gardener, you should be composting. It is truly amazing what can be composted, providing your garden and plants with a rich variety of nutrients, and cutting down on the amount of trash your household produces. Coffee grounds, teabags, eggshells - there are literally hundreds of things you can compost instead of throwing away. And think how much your garden will love it!

Mulch Tips. One important fact about mulch here in Champion Forest, Texas, is that hardwood mulch is the worst thing you can do to your garden. Hardwood mulch can deplete the nitrogen in your soil, and also encourage termites and the growth of fungus. Who needs that? Instead, use cedar, pine needles, pine bark or gravel.

Border Tips. For borders, try using stone, wood, brick, concrete, or even steel sheeting. One great idea Scott has employed is to use recycled concrete from curbs that have been torn up, which can be stained to look like rocks. Scott also noted that you should not use pressure-treated wood as a border for any garden where you grow vegetables, herbs, or anything else you might eat. Your plants will absorb those chemicals.

Watering Tips. Scott's tips on watering for your Champion Forest, Texas garden are invaluable, as the cost of water has really increased in many Texas communities. Rain sensors are vital, as are watering times. Scott recommends watering two times a week, using a 3-5 minute cycle intermittently three times a day (on your garden watering days), rather than a steady 15 minutes. For the best time of day for watering, 4:30 a.m. is optimal (hopefully you have a sprinkler system you can set for that time.)

This is just a sample of the wonderful information that the Champion Forest Garden Club in Texas receives and shares. And this is in addition to all the amazing work they do to keep this community blooming. Their latest project is the creation of a Community Garden, which will provide educational opportunities for the community, as well as just adding that much more beauty. For more information on the Champion Forest Garden Club, click here. To contact Scott Van at Sundance Earthscapes, call (713) 253-4262. And happy gardening!

Source list:

Personal experience

Champion Forest Women's Club, January 2011 Meeting

Scott Vann (Sundance Earthscapes)