Walking past your neighbor’s house or spotting the plants for sale at Home Depot are surefire ways to give yourself garden fever. Even if you’re not someone who has a green thumb, starting your own garden and maintaining it throughout the year is a wonderful way to express yourself. You can grow herbs, fruits or veggies, or flowers depending on what suits you best and what you’d like to see everytime you step into the backyard. A garden is nothing to be afraid of, though it may not be a hobby you’ve ever dabbled in before. Get those gardening gloves and bags of soil ready because here are some of the basics you should know before you start!
How To Start Your Own Garden
Figure Out What Type Of Garden You Want
The first thing you need to do is figure out the kind of plants you’d like to grow. Do you want to grow flowers and plants throughout the summer months or are you willing to try your hand at fruits and vegetables? You can also plant herbs for yourself or your family to save you from trips to the grocery store.
Figuring out the kind of garden you want to tend to is crucial before moving on. Each category of garden comes with their own selection of plants to choose from, some of which are more suitable for the gardening beginner. Besides, you’ll have a much easier time shopping for plants and enjoying your garden once you figure out where you want to take it.
Select The Perfect Spot For Your Plants
Once you’ve settled on an idea, your plants are going to need a place to set up camp. Choosing the perfect spot for your garden is a big deal because most plants will need a significant amount of sunlight throughout the day. This is also why choosing which type of garden you’d like is important; check the tags on your plants and talk to the experts to figure out how much sun each plant will need.
Though, it’s not just the sun you need to worry about. You’ll want to ensure that your garden is in an easily accessible place and away from any critter hotspots or areas known to take heavy traffic from footprints. You also want to make sure that your garden is somewhere in plain sight so you’ll remember to care for it. Just like many things in life, if something isn’t directly in front of us, we often forget to take care of it. Having a garden in an open area where you can see it reminds you to care for it.
Clean Up The Soil Before You Plant Anything
Now that you have the perfect spot and all your plants ready to go, you’ll need to take care of the soil. Oftentimes the soil in your garden’s new home will need to be cleaned up a bit before anything can go there – this encourages proper growth and will help your plants to thrive. Though, if you’re a new gardener how are you supposed to know which kind of soil you have in your garden? Well, the simple way to figure that out is to conduct a soil test to determine the pH level. Understanding the pH level of your soil will help you know which nutrients are available to your plants.
You’ll also need to make sure that you get appropriate mulch in your garden to protect the soil and keep away weeds. There are lots of different kinds of mulch available as well and you can consult with the experts on which would be best for your soil at home.
Invest In Some Good Gardening Tools
You won’t be able to tend to your garden without the proper tools. Head over to a local hardware store to pick up the appropriate tools to help you prune, rid weeds, and tend to soil. Keep in mind that you shouldn’t go too nuts with the tools right away. It might be tempting to pick up a bunch of tools you think you’ll need, but you should really just purchase the essential equipment. As you continue gardening you’ll be able to determine which tools work best for you.
Follow Your Plants’ Proper Instructions
No matter what you’re planting in your garden, each plant will come with their own set of instructions. To ensure proper care you’ll need to follow the instructions to a tee and maintain your plants based on their individual needs. There are charts available online to help you understand your plants a little better. Remember that there are lots of gardens that mix plants and if you’re planning to do that as well you should familiarize yourself with spacing and how long until you can harvest.
Remember There Is Always Work To Be Done
When all is said and done, one of the most important things to remember about your garden is that there will always be something to do. Whether it’s watering the garden, taking care of weeds, checking on plant growth, or tending to the soil, your garden is always calling out to you. This is why it’s important to keep your garden in an area that’s easily accessible and noticeable so you don’t neglect it. Choosing the proper plants and arranging your garden is just the tip of the iceberg – regular maintenance of your garden is the crucial step!
Planting a garden in your backyard can be a terrific way to express yourself and harvest goodies throughout the season. Regardless of what plants you’d like to take care of, a garden is your own and can be your new hobby for the summer!
