The calendar says that it’s still summer. Dahlias are blooming and tomatoes are ripe for the picking. But the garden is out of control. Weeds have taken over many of the garden beds. Keeping up with the produce has become an agonizing task. And the motivation to deadhead plants has gone by the wayside.

I chalk this situation up to our new puppy, Gunny. Every time I work on the flowers, herbs or produce, he jumps into the middle of the chore, making it difficult to do any work. I’ve had to surround the garden beds with fence panels and chicken wire just to keep him out. But that makes it difficult for me to access the beds to work.

Here’s an example of Gunny’s handiwork…

You might not have a puppy to contend with this summer, but maybe you’ve been on vacation. Or you’ve had a lot of activities going on… company, weddings, or other obligations. And the garden grew out of control while you were busy.

I often hear from gardeners that when September rolls around, they’re ready to be done. They’re tired of trying to keep up, especially when things feel out of control. But in so many growing zones, there are still several months of the growing season left. And the transition time from summer to autumn is a glorious time to spend in the garden.

I’ve been thinking about how to get on top of all the garden tasks so we don’t feel so overwhelmed. For me, getting rid of Gunny is not one of my options. 😏

I came up with 3 habits we can use to get back in control of the garden. These three steps have helped me to love my garden again despite all the setbacks.

3 Habits to Get Your Garden Under Control…

These three habits are easy to do. And when you work at them consistently, you’ll make some progress. About 30 minutes each day is all it takes to reign in the disorder in your garden.

Habit #1… Spend 5-10 Minutes Outside Each Day

When the garden is out of control, it’s difficult to want to spend any time in it. Everywhere we look, we see a task that needs to be done. Like the garden projects we started but never completed. Or the lush flower beds we longed for that look raggedy. Maybe we’re even a little disappointed in ourselves for letting the garden become such a mess.

Despite all these feelings, the garden is a magical place. And when you spend time outdoors in nature, you begin to feel better. Stronger and able to accomplish more. You’ll develop a sense of gratitude for your garden and all that it offers you, even when it’s not perfect.

Look beyond the chores and see the garden for the bounty and blessings it brings. Spend these minutes doing nothing. Just be in the garden and remind yourself of its benefits. Choose each day to celebrate your garden. This can motivate you to put in more time and effort to improve your garden areas.

While you’re relaxing in your garden, ask yourself these questions to help improve your garden overwhelm…

• What do I like most about my garden?
• How can I make it even better?
• How can I use my garden to bless others?
• What’s my vision for the garden?
• Do I need to enlist some help?
• What can I do to reduce the amount of work so it’s not so overwhelming?

Spend these 10 minutes appreciating all that you have rather than bemoaning all that needs to be done. This can change your mindset and encourage you on your gardening journey rather than discouraging you.

Habit #2… The 10 Minute Weeding Session

Weeds are one of the biggest problems that gardeners contend with. If you’re able to keep on top of them early in the season, you’ll be less likely to struggle with them later on. But if they slip by in June, then come September they can be overwhelming.

This is where the 10 Minute Weeding comes in. Every single day, spend just ten minutes working on the weeds. I like to start on one side of the yard and work my way around the garden. Each day, I work in one bed to eliminate the weeds. Then I move on to the next garden bed. I continue this until every bed, walkway, and garden area is weed free.

You might prefer an attack mode that works on specific weeds instead of areas. Start with crab grass, then move on to spurge. Next, clear out the oxalis. No matter what technique you follow, just keep working for ten minutes each day.

Once your garden is weed free, keep up this ten-minute weeding time to prevent the weeds from coming back. We can all find ten minutes to remove these pesky weeds.

Tip… When the weeds are out of control, first remove the flower heads or seed pods to prevent them from spreading.

READ… How to Conquer Obnoxious Weeds in Your Garden

Habit #3… Work on One Small Task

When I’m feeling overwhelmed, I find that if I force myself to do just one small job, it can motivate me to do more. I’ll tell myself that I just have to deadhead the zinnias. Or I can water my flower pots. Sometimes I’ll set a timer and rake for 5 minutes. Start with small baby steps to make changes.

When choosing your tasks, consider what will make the greatest impact on your garden. Cleaning out a pile of junk behind your garden shed sounds like a good idea, but it won’t affect what you see visually. So start with small chores that will improve how you view your garden. Then you can move on to the hidden areas.

Here’s a list of some small tasks you can work on to gain control over your garden. In 10 minutes or less, you can take care of one item on your garden to-do list.

Small Tasks to do in Your Garden

• Water flower pots
• Sweep the porch
• Harvest just one plant
• Clean out one garden bed of debris
• Deadhead one small area
• Complete one small step of a larger project
• Trim one shrub
• Place your order for compost
• Harvest seeds from one plant
• Make yourself a sweet bouquet

Something wonderful happens as you do a small task. Oftentimes, it will motivate you to do another and another. Before you know it, you’ll be caught up on all the chores you thought were too overwhelming.

But even if you only have time each day to complete one small task, it will keep you from falling farther behind.

When you implement these three daily habits, your garden will slowly improve. Consistent effort will make your garden work feel less overwhelming. All it takes is about 30 minutes each day to get started. Implement these three habits to get your garden under control.

Life can get in the way of the beautiful gardens we desire. Despite the hindrances, you can enjoy a beautiful garden during the last weeks of the growing season. All it takes is a little time and motivation to create the garden that you’re longing for… even with a puppy.

Happy Gardening!!!