A Beginner’s Guide to Gardening
A Beginner’s Guide to Gardening
Truly one of the most gratifying hobbies you can ever engage in is gardening. Just imagining the beautiful array of colors, the enticing fragrance of the blooms and the refreshing ambience your garden will provide your home with makes you want to grab those garden tools and start tilling away. But as uncomplicated as a garden may look like, the work behind it is not at all simple. And if you are new to gardening, it may be even a little harder. But don’t be discouraged. With patience, time and effort, you can gradually turn your thumb green and create a garden masterpiece like no other. To further help you with your first time gardening adventure, here are some of the things you need to know and do. Plan your gardenProper planning is a significant part of your gardening. Start with a size that you can manage. A small scale garden measuring 100 square feet is ideal for people new to this activity. This will make it easier for you to learn about the basic rudiments of gardening without being overwhelmed with a lot of work. Another thing you have to do is to determine which plants you will grow in your garden. It is recommended that you start with easy to grow flower seeds such as cosmos, bachelor button, baby’s breath, black-eyed Susan, primrose, marigold and morning glory. It is also a good idea to start with native plants, which are species that exist in your local area. These plants because they are already well- adapted to the conditions of the local environment can grow with minimal help and are more resilient to pests and diseases. Next, you have to design your landscape by sketching it on paper. When designing your landscape, be sure to choose a location that receives at least six hours of direct sunlight everyday. Check that area if there is good drainage by testing if the water does not get stuck after irrigation or after a rain. Try to choose a site that is clear from trees and shrubs which tend to compete with plants for water, light and nutrients. Aside from these, you should also study the basics of gardening such as plant diseases, preparing a planting bed and the processes of fertilization, watering, mulching and controlling of weeds and pests. Shop for your seedsThere are many places from where you can shop for your seeds. One option is to buy from local garden stores which have numerous arrays of seeds available. You can also buy seeds online which is the more convenient choice for many gardeners who do not have time to do some manual shopping. Online, you will find many available seeds. Once you’ve learned which seeds are native and are easy to grow, you can choose from A to Z flower seeds, a list of all kinds of plants listed in a convenient alphabetical order. Gather your toolsNow that you’ve done your planning and have done your seed shopping, the next thing on the list is to gather garden tools that you will need to till and prepare the soil properly. Some of the things you should have are hoe, good bow rake, water sprinkler, stakes, spading fork, string, round ended shovel and shears. It is always a smart move to invest in quality tools. Don’t rely on cheap garden tools because you’ll end up spending even more when your poor quality equipment suddenly falls apart. Prepare your planting bedWhen preparing your planting bed, check the soil first for its type and pH to know which type of fertilizer should be used. Also, make sure that the soil is sufficiently dried before you work on it otherwise you’ll be damaging the soil structure. To test if it’s ready to be worked on, squeeze a handful of soil on your hand, and if it crumbles, it is a go signal but if it sticks together, you still need to wait. When the soil is ready, you can start tilling on it six inches deep. You can use a rototiller to make the job easier but a spade will also do the work just as efficiently. Start the plantingCarefully read and follow the planting directions such as depth and spacing indicated in the packaging of the flower seeds that you’ve bought. FertilizeFertilizers are important to enrich your garden’s soil and provide nutrients to make your plants healthy. These can also help improve drainage and fight diseases and pests. You can start a compost pile, by digging a compost pit in an obscure part of your property and compile in it plant wastes such as dried leaves and trimmings. When your compost is ready, spread a thin layer across the garden bed at least once a year. You can also use it to mix with native soil when planting. If you don’t have time to make your own compost, you can buy it from stores. But always remember that organic fertilizers are more recommended to use than synthetic ones because the former are much friendlier to soil organisms. MulchMulch, which is a protective cover placed on the soil, is used to cut down weed growth, protect plants from insects, aid in temperature control and help retain water and soil moisture. You can choose from a wide variety of mulch but the best to use is the organic one. Water your plantsThe best time to water your plants is during the morning when the temperature is still mild and the sun is still present. Watering at night is not advisable because water does not dry up but is retained in the soil overnight. This can lead to fungal infections. When watering your plants, it’s better to soak the plant with water to encourage roots to penetrate deep down into the soil. Watering should be done properly because water is one of the most important elements that plants need in order to thrive healthily. Other tips for the novice gardener1. Try planting wildflower seeds. This is also ideal for a beginner gardener because it entails no pre-planning or soil plotting. It’s easy to grow, just sprinkle some seeds, rake lightly and water everyday. You’ll see your garden bloom wildly with colors and scents.2. Choose a project that will not take a very long time to accomplish. 3. Keep sufficient space between your plants to avoid having them grow into each other.4. Visit your garden regularly. Talk with your plants if you want. Remember, forming a bond with your garden is contributory to your gardening success. 5. Minimize the use of a rototiller so that the soil doesn’t get overworked. Once you’ve successfully conquered your task in putting up your first garden and have developed skills and confidence, you can venture into more challenging gardening adventure of planting perennial seeds, or putting up a larger-sized plant bed. Gardening has numerous rewards. You’ll only get to know what it truly feels to have a garden after you’ve reaped the fruits of your labor. Sure enough, you’ll be looking forward to planting more and more plants and creating more and more plant beds.
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