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your garden and how much sun each area receives during the day. "The amount of sun will determine the types of plants that will thrive in that aree," Lewandowski added. "If you want a veg- etable garden, for example, you want a loca- tion with at least six hours of sun a day." Sketch out your ideas in a notebook or, for the tech savvy, use one of the many free online garden planners. Vegetable Planner, Smart Gardener and Better Homes & Gar- den's Plan-A-Garden are just three exam- ples. In need of more inspiration? "On Pinterest, there are a million differ- ent ideas for things you can do with your garden," said Anita Wellford, manager at Sunnyslope Gardens in New Berlin. Wellford also suggested taking a cue from your personal or home's sense of style. "Some people want the garden to have a look that is more traditional. Others want something that looks sleek and modern with a pop of color," she said. Now is also a good time to visit your local garden center, not to buy, but to browse for ideas. "Tour your local garden centers," Lewandowski said. "And don't be afraid to ask your questions. If you find a place that can be helpful, you've just added a very helpful tool to your gardening experience." Weekend No. 2 (May 20-21): Prepare the beds With a plan in place, it's times to prepare the garden beds. "The next most important thing many gardeners overlook is the quality of soil," Lewandowski said. "People will spend hun- dreds of dollars on plants, but not think twice at the soil. The majority of my cus- tomers who have plant issues, have issues with their soil quality as well." Wisconsin is known for having heavy, clay soil, which is not ideal for healthy plants and flowers. "A good soil is loose and rich in compost and organic matter," Lewandowski said. If you're doing a raised garden bed, per- fecting the soil is easy. "You just buy the right soil," Lewandows- ki said. "But if you're putting your garden bed in the ground, you're going to be adding some amendments." There are a wide variety of soil amend- ments available, among them peat moss (it adds aeration and promotes good drainage), compost (this adds nutrients) and sand (for additional drainage qualities). "Those are the main three," said Lewandowski, who personally recommends a combination of compost and peat moss. "After you till it in, it gets easier and easier in future years because you now have a good base. All you need is a little top-dress- ing with a good, rich compost." You'll also want to make sure you have the right tools for the job on hand. "If you are planning on doing a big area, use a rototiller even if you have to rent or borrow one because it is heavy work," Well- ford said. At the very least, every beginner garden- er should have the following tools on hand: gloves, hand trowel, spade, rake, hoe, shov- el, wheelbarrow and enough watering hose to reach the beds. If you are planning on using an existing garden bed, use this time to do any neces- sary cleanup, removing unwanted plants, pruning back existing, overgrown plants, and clearing out the debris. Weekend No. 3 (May 27-28 — Memori- al Day Weekend): Plant and enjoy! With the dirty work behind you, now it's time for the fun part — shopping and plant- ing. By Memorial Day weekend, or anytime after, it's usually safe to plant both hardy perennials and more delicate annuals. When selecting plants, look at the leaves. "Make sure the leaves are nice and green," Wellford said. "For flowering plants, you want it to have some buds on it, with maybe a couple flowers open to see what it looks like." Also, examine the roots. Too many roots coming from the container could be a sign of the plant being rootbound. When it comes to using landscape fabric, Wellford recommends it only in areas top- dressed with stone. "I don't recommend it if you plan to add wood chips because when the wood chips decompose they produce a nice layer of soil," Wellford explained. "If you have land- scape fabric underneath and remove it, you're removing that nice soil, too." Instead, after planting, top-dress the area with a 2- to 3-inch layer of wood chips to help keep the weeds out. And finally, don't focus on color alone. "People will think about color and sun- light, but forget about how big a plant will get when it's fully grown," Lewandowski said. "Consider the height, as well, and where it will be planted." To ensure proper planting, follow the directions on the container, making sure to leave enough space between plants based on the full, mature size of the plant. As a gen- eral rule of thumb, dig a hole no deeper than the soil level in the pot. "It should look like you stuck the plant in the pot into the ground," Lewandowski said. "You don't want to bury any of the foliage or the stems." After planting, give the newly planted flowers, plants, or vegetables a slow, deep watering, taking care to water the plant at the roots, not the leaves. It's also a good idea to water the plants in their pots before planting. "Gardening can be intimidating if you've never done it before," Lewandowski said. "It's trial and error, but that's also part of the fun." MAY 2017 HOMES PLUS 3 ARE YOU READY FOR THE SUMMER HEAT? Stay cool this summer with these GREAT deals! CALL AND SCHEDULE YOURS TODAY! Dousman • 262.468.6683 255569001 +tax FREE ESTIMATE NEW AIR CONDITIONER INSTALLATION 10 YEAR WARRANTY Off Expires 7/1/17 Expires 7/1/17 Continued from Page 1 Garden: Prep work pays off with a plot of your own to enjoy all summer Sara Rae Lancaster Ground cover can help maintain moisture and help with weeding. Don't forget to leave the leaves above ground when planting your summer garden.

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