There is no perfect garden

Do you ever walk out into your garden and feel a sense of defeat? Too many weeds. Bug holes in all your plants. Spent blooms waiting to be deadheaded. Empty spaces needing life but the bank account says no. So much work and so little time. I feel you. You are not alone. The good news is, despite what we might tell ourselves, THERE IS NO PERFECT GARDEN!

Imperfections in my garden

At times in the past I have chosen to show only the best side of my garden. Especially since my garden is very much still a work in progress. We all want to put our best foot forward, right? But if you, like me, are so tired of all the perfectly curated content out there, well you’ve come to the right place.

I have talked to SO MANY people who are either super intimidated by gardening or disappointed with what they’ve been able to put together. And I hate that!

So I thought it might be helpful to show you some of the less than perfect spots on my garden, and then we’ll talk about making peace with these spaces! Unlike the beautiful photo above, here are a few shots of less than ideal spots in my growing space.

A few less than perfect garden issues

• Weeds. Duh. I mean everyone has weeds. But given that my garden was cut out of an old pasture, wild and neglected for possibly decades, the weeds are strong with this one. I’ve got bindweed/morning glory that just won’t quit, thistles for days and more than a few dandelions. If I skip a few days in the garden, there is hell to pay.
• Hostile takeovers. Did you know that any plant growing in a spot you don’t want it to is considered a weed!? Well, I’ve got two beds that have been aggressively taken over by mint. I know, I know. NEVER plant mint in your garden beds. “But surely I can keep it under control.” Nope, no you cannot. Nigella has also gone to seed in the pathways and I’ve got some Calendula that just won’t quit. Sigh.

• Grass. Since the entire East side of my garden borders our cow pasture, I have a major issue with native grass seeds blowing in and taking root in my beds. And especially my paths! The battle is fierce, but I keep at it.
• Unfinished spaces. In one corner of my garden is a makeshift “compost bin,” which is really just two giant piles of weeds next to each other. I haven’t composted properly and so many of the weeds have taken root and come alive again. Someday I hope for a greenhouse to sit in this corner, but for now it’s mayhem.
  
  The entire east end of the garden is also still covered by a silage tarp. I hoped to tackle this space this year but ran out of money. Hopefully I’ll have some raised beds in this section in the future, but until then, it remains undone. Such is life.

How to see your garden as perfect for YOU

We’re all good at being critical and pointing out the imperfections in our gardens, but what about the good stuff? What are the things we LOVE about our spaces, flaws and all? After all, unless you make a career out of garden tours, usually nobody is looking over your shoulder and critiquing things besides YOU!

Here are a few ways we can look at the bright spots in our spaces.

Define your garden goals

What are you hoping for from your garden? Do you want to grow your own vegetables? Really pump out the food? Create a medicinal herb garden? Are you hoping to be able to can homemade salsa, all with ingredients grown at home? Or do you want to put together stunning bouquets all season long? Are you in it for looks or function?

It really helps to know what you are hoping for from your garden space. This ensures that you won’t be disappointed. We all have our moments, but when I’m able to remember that my garden is 1. to make me happy, 2. to remind me of God’s beauty and bounty and 3. produce food and flowers for my home, it helps me avoid total overwhelm and discouragement.

When my kids run out with handfuls of freshly picked peas and berry stained lips, they’re not criticizing the weeds in my beds. When they enjoy jar after jar of fresh garden salsa all winter long, they don’t remember that bed that was overrun with mint. Eyes on the prize.

Put on your blinders

Stop comparing your garden to other people’s. Just STOP IT! No matter how much more time, money or resources someone else throws at their garden, doesn’t make it any better than yours. It just makes it THEIRS. Your garden is perfectly yours, and as long as you are giving it the love and attention it needs, it’s a waste of time to compare.

Also, DO NOT fall down the slippery slope of looking around for “inspiration” online. You won’t be inspired, you’ll be envious. And then intimidated. And then discouraged. It’s a slippery slope my friends. You want inspiration? Curl up with Martha Stewart’s 90’s classic Gardening and thank me later.

Practice gratitude for the perfect garden you have

The best way to make the perfect garden for yourself is to BE GRATEFUL. I need this tattooed on my forehead. When I’m out there stressing about the bindweed, on my hands and knees cursing the Nigella that’s self-seeded all over my paths and viciously fighting the native grass takeover, it can be hard to feel grateful. It’s a big space and A LOT of work. Work that’s never really truly done.

But on the days when I remember to grab my camera at golden hour, take photos of the new things coming into bloom, and pause and enjoy the way the golden light filters through the trees, my garden is nothing less than perfect. Or at least perfect to me.

Care for what’s there

If you have limited time and money to devote to your gardening efforts, which most of us do, something that can be super helpful is to simply focus on caring for what’s there. I’m constantly full of bigger, better and often, costlier ideas for improving my garden space, but there is something to be said for really taking care of what you actually have in front of you right here, right now

Instead of pining for the latest gadget, trellis or even new plant, take the best possible care of what you already have and more often than not, you realize you have enough.

Tools for enjoying YOUR perfect garden

If you, like me, are on a tight budget, extravagant garden purchases aren’t a reality. But here’s a few simple things that might make working in your garden feel just a little bit nicer.

1. Sunflower Gardening Tee. Remember the Lilac Gardening Tee from Spring? Well here’s her bolder, bossier sister the Sunflower Gardening Tee. I’ve been absolutely obsessed with this color for the last year, and in addition to the fact that I look awful in yellow, I thought it would be a great color for summer. The perfect thing to get super sweaty in!
2. Floral Shears. If you’ve never had dedicated flower scissors- or shears- now’s the time. They make cutting a garden bouquet that much more fun and fancy!
3. Garden Kneeling Pad. I’ve never seen a pad like this that folds open and has carrying straps. Going to the top of my birthday list! Do it for your knees.

Leave a comment

How do you practice contentment and gratitude when things in your garden are less than perfect? Do tell! Leave a comment below and share your wisdom with us.

And…don’t forget to pin this image so other gardening lovers can find their way to these helpful tips. Happy gardening!

Kali

I’m Kali. Oregon mama, farmer’s wife and creator of the Potager book and blog. Join me and as we cook and garden through the seasons!