The Dos & Dont’s of Starting a Garden
Remember the old nursery rhyme, Mary Mary Quite Contrary How does your Garden Grow ? Well this is how she started it to growing. First of all she started with a layout, then with proper soil preparation, and you should do the same.
Evaluate your space as to how much space is available. Do you have a lot or a little? Then decide whether you are planting flowers or vegetables or both.
Also, try to plant your garden where you can watch and enjoy it growing. There’s nothing more rewarding than seeing flowers, vegetables or fruits of your labor grow in your garden.
Before starting any planting, the soil needs to be loosened, either by hand with a pitch fork and rake or with a garden tiller. This is because loosening the soil allows for aeration and softening with top soil and fertilizers.
Mixing and blending new top soil and fertilizers into the soil before planting gives it time to blend and therefore lessening the chance for roots of small new seedlings to burn.
To make your decision on what and where to plant, take these simple gardening rules to heart and remember to:
- Start with a budget
- Pick a style of garden that compliments the style and design of your house
- Do not start your garden if you are planning any major outside remodeling jobs
- Do have a plan as to where you want to plant what items
- Do become familiar with the soil texture
- Be sure to decide what you want to grow and what growing conditions it needs
Also know where you will be getting the best sunlight ( flowers requiring a lot of sunlight will not do well around a shade tree)
- Do not plant in heavy traffic areas ( play areas of the yard for the kids)
- Do remember your climate. Does you regional area get hot drying winds or unpredictable temperature fluctuations?
- Do remember to calculate light and drainage for your garden. Plants need on average 5 to 6 hours of sunlight a day
- Do try and pick and plant healthy disease resistant plants ( to avoid spraying)
- If you are a novice gardener don’t buy exotic plants that require a lot of attention
- Do buy plants that are native to you area (they will be more hardy to grow)
Bonus Tip: If this is your first garden and you are starting from scratch, it is always a good idea to have your soil tested.
A lot of local nurseries and home improvement centers will do a soil test for little or no charge. This simple procedure can prove to be priceless because soil plays such an important part in the overall health of your garden plants, since they draw their nutrients from the soil.
Until next time,
Happy Gardening
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