7 Ways to Adapt to Gardening While Sheltering in Place

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Learn about seven creative ways you can adapt your gardening plans while you shelter-in-place.

Maybe you have already heard this but we want to say it again; gardening is not canceled.

Just because the coronavirus has caused changes (temporarily) to our daily routines and we are developing a new normal doesn’t mean we need to stop gardening.

What if we told you there are at least 7 different ways you can adapt your gardening this spring while still being safe and healthy?

This pandemic will eventually end, but until then we want to encourage you to adapt, stay safe and healthy, and keep moving forward in your garden. And, hopefully, you will continue your gardening routines even after the shelter-in-place is lifted.

Keep reading to find out our 7 suggestions for what you can do to still kick off your spring gardening this year while staying safe at home.

Oh, and if you want to plant bulbs this spring for beautiful summer flowers but you’re not sure how to start, check out How to Plant Your Garden Bulbs (eBook)

How to Adapt Your Garden

So, you and your loved-ones are sheltering-in-place and self-quarantining to stay healthy, but you want and feel the need to garden. Oh, and spring just started so some of you might be feeling that seasonal pull to really get outside.

You still want to add new plants to that one area of your garden you have been working so hard to complete. You might also want seeds, soil, seed starting soil, tags, and maybe even tools or gloves, but you can’t just go get them without risking getting sick or risking the health of your loved ones either.

Sure, Amazon and other online retailers can help you out to get some of your supplies, but probably not everything.

So, below are seven ways for you to adapt your gardening activities while we get through this trying time in history.

7 Ways to Adapt to Gardening

1) Use what garden supplies you already have

If you have any leftover soil from last year, you can still use it around your yard. By mixing it in with other soil or compost it can still be useful.

You were going to order more mulch to freshen up your beds, but now can’t get a definite delivery date or even buy any. Get your bow rake out and start roughing up your mulch so you expose the mulch below the surface and fluff it up so it looks newer.

Containers need new potting soil, but you can’t get any right now. That’s ok because you can loosen up the potting soil in the container right now to keep using and even mix in some compost or other organic matter for the short term so you can plant any new plants or revitalize the plants already in there.

If plants are in the container, loosen the soil carefully so you do not severe or disturb established roots.

2) Buy online and have it delivered

Amazon, Costco, and other online retailers still have the ability for you to shop, purchase, and set up delivery of different items you need for your garden.

You will need to check online to see what is available to purchase, what is available for delivery, and then how long it will take to get to you. Lots of possibilities here so start shopping to fill your shopping cart.

3) Trade with neighbors (safely, social distancing is still happening)

Your neighbors might have something you can actually use and they either aren’t using or are willing to trade you for it.

You might be doing them a favor by taking it, but ask first. Asking never hurts and the answer might actually surprise you.

4) Support local and take advantage of curbside pickup or delivery

You might not know it, but plant and landscape nurseries have been deemed “essential” businesses during this trying time and they are mostly still open.

They might have different hours of operation and very different shopping procedures, but you can still get plants, soil, seeds, and other supplies they have.

Check out their websites and give them a call to see if they have curbside pick up available or if they even offer delivery, for an extra fee of course.

5) Be creative with containers

So, you can’t find the right container pot online or your local nursery can’t tell you if they have what you want. What do you do?

First, look around your garden and yard for other containers you can use as plant containers or flower pots. This could be an old bucket, watering can, basket, tub, or anything else that:

can hold and retain soil,
can be moved around,
can hold and retain water to drain through the bottom, and
can have enough depth for any plant roots to grow into and get anchored.

6) Grow your own new plants (seeds and cuttings)

Yes, you can grow your own plants from seed, cuttings, tissue culture, grafting, or layering.

Check out our quick podcast Episode 139 on Plant Propagation and find our more on each on this episode’s webpage.

7) Reinvigorate old plants (pruning and other methods)

If you have a huge older plant that you were going to replace with a smaller one, but can’t get to the nursery or they don’t have what you want, keep what you have and start over with it.

Most of your hardwood evergreen or deciduous perennial plants can be pruned really hard and regrow.

This can be a great restarting of the plant in your yard. A chance to retrain the plant from the ground up, in some cases.

When you prune about half or more of many evergreen or deciduous plants, they will react with massive growth and start to regrow.

Some plants react differently to this, so try to do some homework before going this route.

Further Resources

Conclusion

Even though you’re at home and can’t safely leave, you can still get outside and garden while sheltering-in-place.

By using one (or all) of the seven ideas described above, you can adapt to a new gardening routine, continue your projects, and find enjoyment in your garden this spring.

We wish you well and stay safe out there! Have fun, stay positive and stay busy.

Now we want to hear from you.

What projects are you starting in your garden this spring? Have you already adapted your gardening routine to a “new normal”? Let us know how by leaving a quick comment below and thanks!

Thanks and see ya in the garden!

~Sean and Allison

P.S. Follow along with us on Pinterest, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram so you don’t miss a thing!

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