BKYD Life

Gather. Create. Grow.

Plants and Garden

Flowers: Annuals vs. Perennials

Do you know the difference between flowers labeled annuals versus those called perennials? The quick and easy explanation is that annuals only live for one season. Many annuals will drop seeds that can be collected to plant the following year. Another fact about annuals is that they can grow in just about every climate zone. Conversely, perennials will come back year after year, but do best in fewer climate zones.

Click here to find your zone, this map is for those that live in the USA. If you live in a different country, try searching for a hardiness climate zone map for your country. I live in the desert southwest of the US. Phoenix is in hardiness zone 9b-10b. It is important to know your zone so that you can maximize your planting budget and have a beautiful yard.

Both annuals and perennials need to be throughly watered when first getting established and fertilizer to grow. Annuals need to be fed weekly to every other week, while perennials can be fed once to twice a year. Perennials can also benefit from mulching to keep the soul moist between waterings. Perennials also needed to be winterized so that the plants are ready for spring.

I would recommended getting to know the personnel at your local nursery. They are a great resource for flowers that will grow well in your climate hardiness zone, when the best time to plant and how to care for the flowers you choose.

Flowers offer both texture and color to your outdoor area. Whether annuals or perennials are the right choice for your climate zone, flowers are a great addition to making your patio or yard inviting. As the weather warms and we spend more time outside what flowers will you enjoy outside? Click the link to our social media and share your favorite flowers for your yard.

5 Stretches for Gardeners!

Hi, hello, what’s up?! My name is Auriona and you’re probably wondering what authority I have to tell you how to stretch before getting out in your yard. I get it. Well, I have a Doctorate in Chiropractic Medicine with a Master’s in Sports Medicine and have been working with body biomechanics and athletes for almost 13 years. My passion is making sure people are able to get back to being active after an injury and give them the tools they need to avoid future repeat offenses!

With Spring quickly approaching and the anticipation of warmer weather washing away the frost and snow-have you begun dreaming about dusting off your gardening tools? Are you itching to get back to playing in the dirt but have been sitting inside all winter? No judgement, I totally get it! A nice cozy blanket, with a roaring fireplace and a hot toddy sound lovely when it’s freezing outside but that lounging body of yours needs to limber up before starting your next project! Did you know that prolonged sedentary periods of time without adequately stretching before an activity can lead to an increased risk of injury? I’m here to help reduce that risk so that you can enjoy being outside in your yard all day and avoid waking up the next day being reminded that you aren’t 21 anymore.
Below you’ll find 5 easy stretches to get your body in motion and help prevent injuries!

For these stretches, make sure to listen to your body and don’t push through painful movements! 

  1. Cat-Cow/Camel
    1. If you spend a great deal of time sitting during the week, this movement will be sure to help get your spine moving! 
    2. Start by getting onto your hands and knees so that your body looks like a table (shoulders stacked over your hands and hips stacked over your knees, toes tucked under). While taking a deep breath, slowly drop your belly button towards the ground while looking up towards the sky-this is the “cow/camel” pose. On the exhale, slowly push your belly button towards your spine and up to the sky while lowering your head and looking towards the ground-this is the “cat” pose.
    3. *Modifications: Place a yoga mat, rolled up towel, pillow, etc underneath your knees and/or wrists if being directly on the ground is too painful. If you are unable to get onto the ground this can be done seated as well!
  2. Thread the Needle
    1. While still on all four (table position) take your right hand and reach through the space between your left arm and left leg. If you’re  flexible enough, rest your right shoulder and right cheek on the ground to deepen the stretch. Hold this pose for two breaths and then slowly unwind yourself, place your right hadn’t back onto the ground, and resume the table position. Alternate the movement with your left arm!
    2. *Modifications: Place a yoga mat, rolled up towel, pillow, etc underneath your knees and/or wrists if being directly on the ground is too painful. If you are unable to get onto the ground this can be done while standing as well!
  3. Kneeling Hip Flexor Stretch
    1. While kneeling (back knee on the ground, front knee in the air), slowly lean forward and continue to bend the front knee. You should feel a stretch in the front of your thigh and into the hip. For balance-place one or both hands on the front knee. Hold for about 20 seconds and then slowly return to the starting kneeling position. Repeat for the opposite hip!
    2. *Modification: perform the stretch near a wall or with a bench/chair near by for added stability. Again, if this hurts your knees, place a folded towel/yoga mat/t-shirt/etc. down!
  4. Hamstring stretch-touch the ground
    1. Standing with feet together, take a deep breath in. As you exhale, slowly bend at the waist, folding your torso over towards your legs as you try to touch the ground. Hold for about 15 seconds and return to standing. You should feel this stretch in the back of your thighs.
    2. *Modification: If you are unable to touch the ground, feel free to hold onto your elbows while bent over. You can also do this stretch seated with a straight leg and heel on the ground!
  5. Wrist Mobility
    1. While in the same “all fours” position, place the backside of your hands on the ground with your fingers pointed towards your legs. Slowly rock backwards-you should feel the stretch in your forearms and hold for 20 seconds. With the backs of the hands still on the ground, rotate your hands so that your fingers on pointed towards each other. Hold again for 20 seconds. Flip hands over so that palms are resting on the ground and the fingers are pointed forwards. Slowly rock forward and hold for 20 seconds. With the palms still on the ground, point your fingers out to the sides so that they are not facing each other. Again, hold for 20 seconds. 

I hope you enjoy these stretches and that you find them quick and easy to include into your routine before getting back to building your dream yard! Again (and I cannot emphasize this enough), please listen to your body and make sure that you aren’t pushing it beyond its limits. 

Happy Gardening!
-Dr. Auriona Wright DC, MS


4 BONUS TIPS!

  • If you’re pulling weeds, make sure to alternate which hand you are using!
    • The over utilization of one side can lead to sprains/strains.
  • Get close!
    • Reduce low back strain and avoid rounding your back when you pull weeds. You can do this by kneeling down or using a bench/chair when pulling weeds or planting.
  • Protect your knees!
    • If you do choose to kneel, use a folded yoga mat/towel/etc to give added cushion to protect your knees.
  • Lift with your legs and not your back
    • Whether you’re lifting a bag of soil or a vase, remember to lift with your legs and not your back!

*Did you enjoy this guest writer? Let me know and we can ask other experts to write articles that will assist in your opportunity to Gather. Create. Grow. in your Bkyd! Pass this article on to fellow gardeners and give Dr. Auri a follow on Instagram @awright_sportschiro for more tips to keep you moving!

Show Your Yard Some Love

Whether you are in the warm desert Southwest or still buried in the snow, you need to be prepared for spring cleaning ~ and it isn’t just for indoors. Your patio, yard and garden need some attention, if not now then soon!

We all have crazy long to-do lists so I created a PDF that you can download and use. I hope this helps you with your outdoor spring cleaning. It is by no means complete so let me know how I can update it for future use.

Spring Cleaning Checklist

Planning a Spring Garden

If you are new to gardening, it is always best to start with a plan. Here are a couple simple steps to having a bountiful harvest or at least enjoy the process. Tools you will need include; pencil and graph paper, a tape measure and information about what you want to plant.

Planning Steps

Did you plant a garden last year? Did you take notes about what worked and what didn’t? This is helpful information so get it out and have it handy as you plan for this year. And, let this serve as a reminder or maybe a nudge (if you didn’t take notes in the past) to take notes as this year’s garden grows. Trust me, those notes will serve your future gardening adventures.

  1. Read through your notes from past years. Review what worked and what didn’t. Sketch your garden beds on the graph paper and make note of the size of beds you have.
  2. Do you have any seeds leftover from last year? What supplies will you need this year? Make a list. Decide whether to purchase online or from your local garden center.
  3. Start marking your garden layout where to plant which seeds or seedlings. Information you will need includes: sun exposure in each section of the bed(s) vs. sun exposure needs per variety, watering needs per variety and spacing per variety.

Now that is all the pencil and paper planning. But here are some resources to assist you with the decisions that go into the planning.

  1. Mother Earth News ~ you can sign up for regular information about when to plant and what to plant based upon your zip code. I find this very helpful since my planting seasons are much different than the rest of the US. Living in the Desert Southwest doesn’t mean I can’t garden, just that I need to know and understand my climate as it relates to planting.
  2. Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds ~ is a great resource to learn about the seeds you want to plant. They have broken it down by space, water and sun needs and so much more. You can also order your seeds directly from them if you are interested.
  3. Gardeners ~ has a large selection of tools and supplies for every type of garden and gardener.
  4. Farming My Backyard ~ wrote a post all about planning and what to consider throughout the year.
  5. Tenth Acre Farm ~ wrote a post all about starting your seeds inside so you have seedlings to plant.
  6. SchneiderPeeps ~ has a downloadable gardening notebook to help you keep track and make planning easier for next year.

Happy planning friends! And tag us on social media with a photo of your plans.

Planners are Planters, part 2

Here is the link if you need to reread part 1. In part 1, I created a list of ideas you might want to include in your backyard plan. Remember you need a plan to get the most out of your space and time in the backyard. You may have, even, thought of more ideas for your backyard than I listed as possibilities. If you did, that’s great. I’m glad you were being creative and thinking outside the box.

Now, with your list, let’s start creating zones. Let’s start with the big items. If you are putting in a pool or play structure (or both), you will need to decide where they should go first. Think of things like are they visually pleasing? Do you want to see them from a certain window inside the house? What spot in the yard makes the most sense? Do you need gas, electric or water lines, then make those as short as possible and place the pool or other large item in close proximity to the source.

Maybe you have a small space and you don’t want or need items like a pool or play structure. What you really want is a garden, a place to eat and a place to cook in your backyard.

Those zones fit perfectly together. You could even put a lovely table in the midst of your garden beds. As you can see in these two photos ~ the garden beds are on the edges of the yard while the table is in the middle. What a fantastic way to enjoy an evening, with or without company!

If you need any other assistance planning your backyard space to incorporate all that you want, I would suggest reaching out to a professional. You can find options online or locally. Yardzen is a great online option. Check out their website for details. If you want a local option, you can visit a nursery in your area, some have designers on staff. Of course, asking friends and family for recommendations is always a good place to start!

I hope this helps you start planning, not just what elements to include in your backyard plan, but also what you can accomplish in your backyard. You can grow your own food to nourish your family and friends. You can gather in community to share a meal and stories of the day while creating fabulous memories. After all, the backyard was meant to gather, create, and grow!

Planners are Planters

Are you a planner or would you characterize yourself as more spontaneous? Do you like to think about things, write them down, have a list to check off? Maybe you just go with the flow, see how you feel in the morning kinda person?

Neither one is right, neither one is wrong. I would like to think of myself as somewhere in the middle. Sometimes I have a plan and sometimes I don’t. 

Many plans for 2020 had to be changed or discarded all together. New plans had to be created. Some people faced more anxiety than ever all because they didn’t know how to plan with all the restrictions. For that very reason, I don’t think plans should ever be etched in stone. They need to be flexible at all times. There are just too many factors that we can’t control. Even if there isn’t a pandemic to deal with, we can’t control the weather or the needs/wants of those around us. There will always be parameters we need to work within.

According to Wikipedia, 

Planning is the process of thinking about the activities required to achieve a desired goal. It is the first and foremost activity to achieve desired results. It involves the creation and maintenance of a plan, such as psychological aspects that require conceptual skills. There are even a couple of tests to measure someone’s capability of planning well. As such, planning is a fundamental property of intelligent behavior.

So how does a flexible plan work within an outdoor space? Well, to get the most out of your time and outdoor space you need a plan. You can create zones that are multifunctional. Let’s start with a few simple questions about how you want to use your outdoor space, as you answer these don’t focus on the outdoor space you currently have, just what you would like to have even (if it is eventually):

  • Do you want to garden?
  • Do you want room for animals (even just 1 dog)?
  • Do you want to play games outside?
  • Do you want to watch movies outside?
  • Do you want to have a fire pit?
  • Do you want to cook outside?
  • Do you want to eat outside?
  • Do you want a swimming pool?
  • Do you want a play structure or trampoline?
  • Do you want space to exercise, maybe meditate outside?

Once you have the answers to these questions you can move forward with the next part of the plan. If you don’t have the space for what you want, you have a couple choices ~ 1. Save up so you can eventually get what you want; 2. Decide what is most important to you right now (for example a garden to grow healthy food) and find a solution (use pots on your balcony to grow a select group of vegetables and herbs), or; 3. Contact a realtor and get moving!

For the sake of this article, let’s say you have space for a few items on your list and you are happy to make that work.

Next, it will be time to create zones within your outdoor space. But let’s table the discussion for now. This topic will be discussed more in-depth later this month. For now, continue to look over this list and envision you, family and friends using your outdoor space. You will need that vision when we come back to this topic.

To be continued…