The key to creating a garden begins with inspiration. Whether you want something contemporary, a flourish of wild, romantic planting or an outdoor space that works all year round, knowledge and inspiration are the key. Read this article and get the 10 Best Tips and Tricks on How to Garden Plants, 2021 Guide.
1. Site it right
There's a quote that says: "Out of sight, out of mind" that can be applied to many things: even gardening. Taking care of your plants and enjoying them more is possible when your garden is located in sight. No matter if it is just outside your window, or in a place where you walk through or past it every day: your veggies, herbs, and flowers need to be located in a place where you can see them.
2. Follow the Sun
If you're learning to garden do not misjudge sunlight. The second step is to pay attention to how sunlight plays through your yard before choosing a spot for your garden. Most edible plants: including many vegetables, herbs, and fruits, need at least 6 hours of sun in order to thrive.
TIPS:
- Take note of all the outdoor spaces where you might put your garden, and consider which season you plan to grow in. Light shifts depending on the time of year, so watch how and where it shines for a few days and you’ll start to see patterns of sun and shade.
- Most veggies, herbs, and flowers need at least 6 to 8 hours of daily sun; so, your garden should go where it will get the most exposure throughout the day.
- If you can’t find an ideal spot, consider growing shade-tolerant plants, such as arugula, spinach, parsley, mint or ferns. Or, if rays of light can only reach part of your garden, mix it up: Grow sun-loving plants in one section and shade-tolerant plants in another.
3. Always Stay close to water
One of the most important gardening tips is to plan your new garden near a water source. You’ll need to water your garden a lot: at least once a week for in-ground and raised bed gardens, and once a day or more for container gardens; so, make sure your hose can reach every single plant. (A watering can work well for small gardens or individual plants, but lugging it back and forth to the spigot will tire you out quickly)
- TIP: The best way to tell if plants need watering is to push a finger an inch down into the soil (that's about one knuckle deep). If it's dry, it's time to water.
4. Start with Great Soil
One of the most important pieces of advice when you're starting your own garden plan is to invest in soil that is nutrient-rich and well-drained. Plants need to be able to spread out and grab hold of the earth, and water and air need to flow through the plot of land they call home. Soil matters, a lot: it holds the nutrients and moisture that your plants will use to get established, grow, and produce foliage, fruit, and flowers. To check if yours is fit for growing an in-ground garden, dig a small hole at least 6 inches deep and pull out the contents. If you find clay, sand, or lots of rocks, or if the texture feels dense and compact in your hands, improve the soil by adding organic matter or fresh, new soil.
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Why Is It Important to Use Good Soil?
A good soil is the key to having strong, thriving plants. Good soil, whether you're talking about potting mix or garden soil is crucial for strong roots. In an ideal environment, your growing medium needs a good balance of three ingredients:
- Water
- Nutrients (plant food)
- Air
= a rich growing environment
If any of these three ingredients becomes imbalanced, your plants might face some growing challenges. Unfortunately, many native soils often lack essential minerals like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, which means plants have trouble reaching their full potential. If garden soil is soggy, hard, rocky, or lacking in nutrients, plants won't thrive. However, it's important to know that the texture and composition of soil can be changed:
By adding the right materials, poor soil can shift from soggy to well-drained, from hard to light and fluffy, and from nutrient-free to nutrient-rich.
- You may also consider rainwater, check this tip: How to choose the best Rainwater Collector for you and its Benefits
5. Consider Using Containers
The right size of a garden only depends on what you want: it can be one or two container plants, a raised bed, or a multi-row in-ground garden. Whatever style suits you, it is important to give your plants enough space for them to grow bigger without getting crowded.
However, if space isn't something that you have, you should better look for containers. You can grow many plants in pots: vegetables, herbs, flowers, fruit trees, berries, and shrubs. When gardening in containers, use a pot that's large enough for the plant it's hosting.
- TIP: Before you plant anything in a container, check that it has drainage holes along the bottom. Drainage holes allow any excess water moving through the soil to continue flowing beneath the roots and out of the pot, protecting your plants from root rot.
6. Choose Appropriate Plants
It's important to select plants according to accurate growing conditions. This means: putting sun-loving plants into a sunny spot, choosing heat-tolerant plants in warm climates, and giving ground-gobbling vines like pumpkins and melons. Choose the right varieties, the ones that will grow well according to the place you live and the space you have and be ready to enjoy the garden of your dreams!
7. Get to Know your Zone
Knowing your "hardiness zone" can help you choose the right plants. In other words, it describes the coldest place a plant can grow. The higher the zone number, the warmer the climate. For example: if a plant is "hardy to zone 5" and you garden in zone 6, that plant will, by sure, survive in your yard. However, if you're in zone 3, it's too cold to grow that particular plant.
Other Weather Factors to Consider:
Keep in mind that you should consider many other factors besides your hardiness zone. These factors include: the type of soil you're working with, altitude, moisture, humidity, heat and wind.
- Check this very useful post: All You Need to Know About Garden Zones: How to Use the USDA Map!
8. Learn your Frost Dates
Planting too early or too late in the season can spell disaster for your garden. You should know the last average spring frost date for your area so you don't kill your plants by putting them out prematurely. It's also good to know your first average fall frost date so that you get your plants harvested or moved indoors before late-season cold damages them. Remember: discover the average first and last frost dates for your area, it is truly important.
9. Add some Mulch
Apply a layer of mulch that's 2 to 3 inches deep around each plant. This will help reduce weeds by blocking out the sun, and reduce moisture loss through evaporation, so you have to water less.
You may be interested at: How Many Mulch Bags do you Have to Consider in a Yard?
10. Feed your Plants Regularly
We've discussed about the importance of a great soil, but that soil works even better with regular boosts of high-quality nutrition for your plants. In other words: an amazing soil plus top plant food results in super garden success!
Some months after planting, you should begin feeding your garden with plant food:
Plants demand an accurate supply of sunlight, moisture, and nutrients to thrive. They absorb sunlight through their foliage and draw moisture and nutrients from the soil through their roots. After some time, the soil might become depleted; so, you need to add fertilizer (plant food) to replace the lost nutrients that your plants need.
Properly fed plants develop stronger, more efficient roots. They also grow to become more robust, more beautiful, and more productive than those that aren’t fed.
- Check this article about: The Unexpected Benefits to Composting: Your Complete Guide
Whether you're new to gardening or just want the basics, these gardening tips will help you take care of your gardening plants.
If you feel like learning more and more about the magic of gardening, read the following articles to learn the best growing options for beginners:
- Flower Seeds: The Best Options for a Beautiful Garden
- 9 Easiest Vegetables to Grow, especially for Beginners and 10 Fall Vegetables to Easily Grow at Home, for Beginners
Hope I have given you all the information that you'll need to enjoy the benefits of an amazing garden.