When the birds call and the daffodils bob in the first warm
breeze, do you get an
uncontrollable urge to dig in the dirt?

Wayne McLaurin, a horticulturist with the University of Georgia
Extension Service, says
you don’t have much choice. Gardening is a rite of spring.

Why do people garden?

“It’s a habit for some folks,” McLaurin says. “Lots of people
grew up farming and
gardening. It’s what you do in the spring. It’s a natural
occurrence after being cooped up
inside so long. You just have to go outside and get in touch
with the soil.”

Once nature calls, the rewards are bountiful.

McLaurin figures the reason gardening is by far the No. 1 hobby
in the nation, ahead of
golf, fishing or anything else, is that it’s relaxing.

“We all get frustrated sitting behind a desk all day,” he
says. “To see something grow and
produce a flower or fruit is extremely relaxing. Pulling weeds
and tending delicate plants
forces you to slow down and notice the little things. And it
burns up calories. Gardening is
good for both physical and mental well-being.”

The first gardeners weren’t escaping the office or trying to
unwind. They had to garden to
feed themselves and their families.

Today’s gardeners can stop by the grocery store and get fruits
and vegetables from
throughout the world. Why go to the time, trouble and expense of
gardening?

“People garden because they want the fresh produce,” McLaurin
says. “You have
complete control over chemical use, composting, etc. And there’s
nothing better than
home-grown tomatoes straight off the bush.”

Georgia gardeners enjoy the luxury of being able to grow just
about anything. The volume
and variety a good gardener can reap from a plot of Georgia soil
is nothing short of
amazing, McLaurin says.

Gardens range from the common “garden” variety of standard
vegetables to specialty
gardens for herbs, giant tomatoes, exotic plants, ornamental
shrubs or showy flowers.

“Everybody has some innate desire to see something grow,”
McLaurin says,” even if it’s
just an African violet on the window sill. You can’t escape
spring’s call.”

Before you answer that call, remember a few tips.

Don’t believe all the seed catalog’s claims. Buy reputable
plants grown locally so they’re
adapted to your area.

Talk to your county Extension
Service agent. Pick up plenty of extension
publications
about gardening, landscaping and other spring tasks.

“And talk to other gardeners,” McLaurin says. “They’ll give you
more advice than you
need. Just ask.”