If you’ve ever wanted to start your own garden but aren’t sure, well, where to start or are intimidated by your lack of a green thumb, we’ve got some good news for you: Gardening is something everyone can learn to do.
And, it turns out it’s really a healthy hobby.
But if starting a garden is new to you, we’re here to help you through the early stages of the process. Follow our Gardening 101 tips and let us know how it goes.
- What are you planting? If you’ve been considering a garden, you probably already know what you’d like to grow: A vegetable garden, a flower garden or an herb garden. But if you’re not sure, you might want to do some research first because there are challenges with each, such as soil quality and how much time you can devote. Maybe you’d like to do a little of all three. Whatever you decide, do some research on your plant(s) so you can form a strategy.
- Where will your garden grow? Have you mapped out a spot to grow this fabulous garden yet? It’s normally recommended vegetables and flowers get around six hours of sun per day. Keep an eye on the areas you have in mind and keep track of how much they actually get each day. Also consider the fact you want it to be close enough to your water source so you don’t have to do a ton of work each day to drag a hose around the yard.
- Tool Time. You don’t need every super-incredible gadget and tool available, but it is important to have some staples in your toolshed. Some of those include a hand trowel, pruners, a digging fork, a spade/shovel, a hoe and a rake. As time goes on, you’ll no-doubt add to your collection just make sure the items you do buy are good quality so they hold up over time.
- Get to work. It’s time to get the ball rolling. First, you need to get rid of the grass and sod covering where you’re planting. You can either dig it out or smother it. Better Homes and Gardens suggests using newspaper – five sheets or more – with three inches of compost in order to smother it. This method will take four months to decompose. However, to get the area ready faster, just dig it out.
- Next, try to boost the soil with a thick (3 inches or so) layer of compost, decayed leaves, grass clippings or old manure. It’s a good idea to till the organic material into the soil but you can also leave it on the surface and allow it to soak in for a few months. Another good idea is to have a local group come out and do a soil test and get their recommendations.
- Digging is recommended also because it helps the roots grow easier. However, try not to dig when the ground is too wet or too dry because this can do damage to the soil. Better Homes and Gardens suggests, ”Dig only when the soil is moist enough to form a loose ball in your fist, but dry enough to fall apart when you drop it.”
- Plant. Now that your garden is ready to go, it’s time to plant what you’ve chosen to grow. Do some research and find out what time of year – for instance, tomatoes aren’t good in the cold; perennial flowers are good in mid-spring – and how they should be planted – staked?
- Water and Mulch. Don’t let your young seedlings ever dry out. Water daily until they get larger, when you won’t need to water as much, depending on the soil, how much it rains and how hot it gets. Each time you water, make sure you soak it in deep in the morning to avoid run off and evaporation. Mulching helps keep the moisture in while keeping weeds out. Use a few inches of whatever mulch is recommended for your plants.
- Now that you’re off and running, it’s time to maintain a beautiful healthy garden. Water, pull weeds, fertilize, prune and continue to plant. Stay consistent and work regularly in your garden to stay on top of any problems that come up. This is also a great way to learn how the seasons affect your plants and how to improve your efforts over time.
Obviously, growing a great garden doesn’t happen overnight. But you can’t get there if you don’t start sometime. So why not now? Spring is upon us and it’s a great excuse to get outside and enjoy the weather.
