If you’ve ever flipped through a gardening book or scrolled through advice online and thought, that doesn’t quite match what happens in my yard, you’re not imagining things. Gardening on the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau plays by a slightly different set of rules, so a lot of one-size-fits-all guidance needs a mountain-sized adjustment.
Take “full sun.” Many guides warn that too much light scorches leaves and dries soil. Up here, cooler temperatures and frequent cloud cover take the edge off, so plenty of “part sun” plants can handle more exposure. At the same time, our tree canopy can turn “light shade” into deep shade. Sometimes the bigger problem is not enough sun.
Another myth is that we don’t need to worry about watering because it rains so often.
We do get our share, but water moves quickly through mountain soil, especially on slopes, and containers dry out faster than you’d expect. Even in-ground plants may need a drink between showers, so I ignore the forecast and check moisture with a finger in the soil.
You might also hear that our growing season is too short for vegetables. It can be limiting for heat lovers, but many crops actually prefer our cooler temperatures.
Lettuce, kale, peas, and other cool-season staples often perform better here than they do lower down, where summer heat shuts them down early. With good timing – and maybe a row cover on a chilly night – there’s a lot you can grow.
One more: native plants are “carefree.” I love natives because they belong here and tend to be resilient, but they aren’t magic. Young plants still need water and time to establish, and even a native will struggle in the wrong spot. “Right plant, right place” still applies.
Finally, soil. A lot of advice says to add organic matter every year, no questions asked. But with all our natural leaf litter breaking down, more isn’t always better. It can be worth pausing, looking closely at what you have, and even testing soil before piling on amendments.
At the end of the day, gardening in Highlands isn’t harder – it’s just its own thing. The more you watch what works in your own yard, the more those generic “rules” fade into the background. Around here, careful observation is your best tool.
Happy Gardening!
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