It’s been my goal this year to perfect my gardening skills and really hone in on my green thumb. And since becoming a homeowner, the one thing I’m incredibly proud of is the perennial hydrangeas the previous owners planted and that I’ve been taking care of.
But this year I noticed something terribly wrong: one entire side of my perennials wasn't growing as fast, almost seemed to be dying, and didn't look nourished.
I went to Gemini to help me figure out what was going on and how I could fix it, and it took me all of 20 minutes and about a day’s work. And I’m going to tell you the step-by-step procedure I used, not only to fix your hydrangeas but also how you can probably do the same thing for any of your gardening-related queries.
It started with a simple question
I find that when you’re using Gemini, the more specific you are, the better, and if you can include images, it’s even better.
I took pictures of the left and right sides of my garden and asked what was going on with my perennials. I also said that I had no idea how to fix it. Offering Gemini a photo visual of what you are working with can help diagnose exactly what you need to fix.
Gemini indicated that there was a huge night-and-day difference and that it usually comes down to environmental microclimates and resource competition. I liked that it explained exactly what happened: that one side’s growth is affected by its environment versus the other side, and that much of the issue comes from the grass and weed population.
It then gave me a solution. It said that I would have to get rid of the competing properties (grass and weeds) using a weed whacker. Lay a compostable material first, then add fertilizer, and top it off with mulch.
The back and forth
Here’s where it got fun for me and also complicated. I am not a simple person; I like options, and I want to know what exactly I would need to make this project happen successfully. I questioned Gemini what the right compost was, in my case using something high-quality like sheep or cow manure. I asked what kind of mulch I needed, and if I could use yard waste bags as the compostable layer.
I liked that Gemini would push back if I offered a specific kind of mulch and would give me a reason why one is better than another.
The biggest pushback I had was whether I should use a ground fabric liner versus cardboard or yard waste bags. Because I wanted to do this on a budget and effectively.
The quick check with real humans
Here’s the part that I highly recommend you do when you are using Gemini to help you do a DIY project or fix anything at home.
Talk to a professional!
With the information I had (the environmental conditions and the fix), I called the Terra that is near my home to ask questions. Side note: Terra is a garden center for those who don’t live in Ontario and are reading this.
I spoke with a professional, detailing everything, and I did not say I used Gemini, not because I cared what the person would think, but sometimes people have weird feelings about Gemini or any AI use. So I wanted to keep it neutral.
The professional told me exactly what Gemini said, and even when I asked about fabric liner, the professional told me not to use it and that it would not really help with the regrowth of my flowers.
I would recommend doing this step because Gemini can always be wrong. It can also tell you things that might require more steps than usual, and it might also tell you things that might cost more than you think.
The final result
While it took me an entire day to do this project, the actual back-and-forth with Gemini was all of 20-30 mins. And I think that’s super worth it. I love that even after cross-referencing with a gardening professional, I was told the exact same steps, and that I could do it in one day.
The result was so epic because after a few weeks I started seeing that my hydrangeas looked healthier and happier and started blooming too. I am actually pretty impressed with how Gemini was able to help.
And I think you can do this with any home gardening project.
I even used Gemini to help fix the side of my home that leads to the shed.
A few weeks later, I went back into my Gemini and asked if it remembered the conversation I had with it about my hydrangeas, and whether a similar process could be done to the side of the house. Surprisingly, it remembered everything and also told me that the same process could be taken with the side of my home.
I don’t think Gemini needs to be taken too seriously. I think this is the real intention of Gemini, and I think it can totally be helpful.
