THE COASTAL GARDENER:Resolve to be a better gardener

I’m not good at making and keeping resolutions myself, but like other writers, I’m great at suggesting these for others. I couldn’t resist making a list of suggestions for coastal gardeners for the coming year. Raise your right hand and repeat after me.

I will stop planting “winter tomatoes.” About September or October, rest assured you’ll read or hear about “winter tomatoes” again. You’ll be better off planting vegetables that really thrive in the cool weather — broccoli, lettuce, cauliflower, peas, carrots or favas.

I will not prune hydrangeas after Labor Day. Certainly these are the most mis-pruned plants in local gardens. Cut off the flowers as they fade, but put away the pruning shears after Labor Day or you’ll be without flowers the following year.

I will attend a local garden tour. Beginning in April, several Orange County communities and organizations will again host home garden tours. Along the coast, tours of home gardens are organized by the Laguna Beach Garden Club, Sherman Gardens and the San Clemente Garden Club. More home garden tours take place in Tustin, Villa Park, Fullerton and Santa Ana.

I will join a local garden club. Perhaps the best way to indulge a gardening interest and learn new skills is by joining a gardening group. All these groups have regular meetings, which are free to attend; informative speakers; and great camaraderie. Here are a few local groups and the cities where they meet: Orange County Rose Society (Huntington Beach), Rose Society of Saddleback Mountain (Mission Viejo), Newport Harbor Orchid Society (Costa Mesa), California Native Plant Society (Irvine), Rare Fruit Growers (Costa Mesa), Fuchsia Society (Garden Grove), Cactus and Succulent Society (Garden Grove), Plumeria Society (Fountain Valley), and Bromeliad Society (Mission Viejo).

I will try something new. With the number of plants available, there’s no reason to keep planting the same ol’ same ol’.

I will begin composting and mulching. Great gardens start with great soil. Great soil starts with organic mulches. There is no better mulch than compost that you make yourself. That plastic bin full of leaves and clippings that you wheel out to the curb every week would be better composted and returned to your garden. Maintaining a one- to two-inch thick layer of mulch around your plants will help conserve water, keep your plants’ roots nice and cool, prevent weeds and improve the soil structure.

I will not overuse or misuse fertilizers or let them wash into the gutter. Some coastal gardeners still believe that the fertilizers and chemicals they put on the lawns and gardens stay there. They’re wrong. When sprinklers go on and water runs to the curb, it goes directly into the ocean, not to a treatment facility. And it carries with it those same fertilizers and chemicals.

I will water correctly. Because sprinkler systems are usually designed poorly and distribute water inefficiently, most gardeners compensate by over-irrigating. We all want to water correctly and to conserve water, but many don’t know how. Instinctively, we set the frequency and duration of timers high enough so that the driest spot in the garden gets enough water. Meanwhile, the other 80% of the garden is over-watered.

I will not panic when I see a bug. Only a small percentage of insects are pests. Many are beneficial and either eat true pests or pollinate plants. The vast majority is neither — they’re just there. Make your backyard a friendlier environment for the birds, bees, butterflies, you and your plants. A lot of buzzing and flying might mean that your garden is healthy and thriving.

I will never hire someone to work in my garden just because he or she is inexpensive. Hiring someone to do design, landscaping or maintenance without doing some research can be a mistake. There should be no problem in asking to see credentials. Butchered trees and shrubs planted incorrectly are just a few of the rewards from hiring people who do not know what they are doing.

I will wear a hat and sunscreen. When working in the garden, wear a hat with a wide brim, and be sure to apply plenty of protective sunscreen.

I will give something back. Share your love of gardening with kids and seniors. Too many tomatoes and cucumbers? Take them to your local food bank or share them unexpectedly with your neighbor. Gardening is at least twice as much fun when someone else benefits from your labor of love.

I will have fun. Don’t lose sight of why we love to grow things. Nature is beautiful and relaxing, a spirit we try to capture in our gardens. Let nature do her thing, and enjoy the show.

ASK RON

When is the best time to prune hydrangeas?

MARCIA CASHION

Corona del Mar

I never seem to tire of answering this question, since more often than not, hydrangeas are pruned at the wrong time of the year. The stems that hold faded hydrangea blossoms should be pruned during late summer, preferably before Labor Day. Do not cut the tips of other branches, and never prune a hydrangea in the winter, no matter how tempting. Hydrangeas bloom on the branch tips of the prior year’s growth.

your toughest gardening questions, and the expert nursery staff at Roger’s Gardens will come up with an answer. Please include your name, phone number and city, and limit queries to 30 words or fewer. E-mail stumpthegardener@ rogersgardens.com, or send to Plant Talk at Roger’s Gardens, 2301 San Joaquin Hills Road, Corona del Mar, CA 92625.