The Costco Connection

kale, romaine lettuce, spinach, squash, sweet potato, tomatoes and turnips.

Flower gardens are the most common plantings in urban and suburban communities; everyone wants a beautiful ;ower container at their entryway or a window box that is overflowing with annuals. Another reason to plant a ;ower garden is to support local pollinators such as bees and butter;ies.

Pollinator gardens often need full sun, but some shady ;owers work. Native plants are best, as they typically have nectar- and pollen-rich ;owers; be sure

GARDEN GROW

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more attention than a container garden, with regular watering, weeding and maintenance. Using a no-till method will reduce the need to till every season. Lay down a thick layer of newspaper to kill grass, then start layering manure, soil, compost and mulch. Plant in the top of the layers, then add new organic matter layers in future seasons. This no-till method helps save the microorganisms in the soil and produce stronger, healthier plants.

Mulch tip: Mulching gardens with ; to ; inches of wood chips, shredded hardwood, pine needles or another organic substance helps the soil retain moisture, which means you will not spend as much money on watering. It also helps control weeds, prevents soil erosion and gives your garden a nice ;nished look.

Living walls or vertical gardens are a brilliant way to garden in a small urban or suburban space and o;er the advantage of no weeding. A living wall is a self-su;cient vertical garden growing on the side of a building, fence, gate or balcony. Within the living wall system is a structural support fastened directly to the supporting wall or fence that holds the plant roots and soil system. It can be soil-based or water-based, and some have built-in watering systems.

A homemade living wall system can be created with window boxes. Simply drill window box supports in a vertical row, about ;; inches apart, and hang inexpensive window boxes as your living wall.

Watering tip: A living wall requires consistent water and fertilizer. This is particularly important for plants that will be raised and receive more air circulation, so installing an automated drip watering system will help your vertical garden system succeed.

Elevated beds make gardening a snap for people who have a di;cult time bending or reaching. Elevated beds are normally waist height and can be gardened while standing or sitting. Although you can plant any type of annual or perennial in elevated beds, they make particularly wonderful vegetable and herb gardens.

Harvesting tip: In order to harvest herbs or leafy greens but keep them consistently beautiful all season long, simply harvest a third of the plant at a time.

While the third you cut is regrowing, you can harvest another third. This process keeps the plants productive throughout the growing season.

Raised bed gardening means gardening on top of the existing soil in garden boxes, which are typically ;; to ;; inches high. Raised bed gardening enables you to have a more nourishing soil base for your plants’ roots, and it can prevent soil compaction, provide stronger drainage and be planted virtually anywhere.

Also, with raised beds, the soil warms earlier so you can plant vegetables earlier to extend your growing season.

Raised bed tip: If you are building your own raised bed, be sure to use untreated wood or materials, which will not transmit toxic chemicals to your plants. Line your raised bed with landscaping fabric to prevent the wood from rotting. Fill the raised bed up to ; inches from the top to allow for planting and additional soil amendments in the future.

What do you want to grow?

Herb and vegetable gardens are more popular than ever. Herbs and vegetables grown from seeds or starts can grow in almost any space, small or large, and contribute to a family’s healthy diet. Herbs and vegetables love full sun; some can also be grown in shade, but you must be selective. These plants are versatile and do marvelously in containers, vertical gardens and elevated beds, as well as in-ground gardens.

Easily grown herbs include basil, mint, oregano, rosemary and sage.

Common vegetables with strong nutritious content include arugula,

beans, broccoli, carrots, chard, endive,

IN-GROUND GARDEN

THECOSTCOCONNECTION

Costco members will ;nd garden beds, composters, planters, fountains and ponds, hoses and accessories, garden tools, fertilizers, seeds and soil year-round on Costco.com and seasonally in most Costco warehouses.