Gardening is a rewarding hobby to millions of people. Gardening can teach you valuable life lessons, provide a get away from the buzz of life, and it can bring a sense of calm and humanity to your home.
But where do you start? Gardening can be a complicated game, so its important to keep things simple from the start. That way you don’t get overwhelmed by all the tiny little details in the beginning. Here are some top tips to help you get your garden started!
Location, Location, Location
Location is a big deal for your plants. Every kind of plant needs a certain amount of sun and shade to thrive. Here are a few rules to live by:
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Pick a sunny spot
- Most plants need 6-8 hours of sunlight on a regular basis. If they don’t get enough, they can’t survive, and too much sun can burn your plants. Read up on the type of plants you are interested in cultivating to help you determine your location.
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Not too windy
- Winds that are too powerful can harm young or flimsy plants, and can also prevent pollinators like bees from taking care of your plants.
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Proper drainage
- If your plants don’t have access to proper drainage, that is a death sentence for your roots. While water is essential for survival, too much water will result in root rot, and your plants will die. If you don’t have a garden bed that drains, try installing some raised garden beds. That will keep your plants healthy and dry. Not to mention it will give your backyard a beautiful aesthetic (and saves your back too).
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Solid Soil
- Your soil needs to be nutrient rich to give your plants a good start in life. Soil that lacks nutrients, is full of rocks, or is thick like clay will really limit your plant’s potential. Head on over to your local nursery to pick up some fresh soil to get your garden started.
Get Rid of Weeds
Once you have your spot picked out clear the soil of those pesky weeds. Grab a shovel and a pair of gloves and go to town early in the day so you don’t have to break a sweat. If you aren’t into the idea of digging out weeds, your local nursery can provide for you “weed killers” to spray around your flower bed. Keep in mind, this option isn’t for everyone as these weed killers do have chemicals that may affect your future plants or could be dangerous for dogs and kids to be around. Do your research!
If you don’t want to dig and you don’t want chemicals, consider covering up your flower beds with cardboard and mulch. The cardboard will kill all the weeds in your bed and the mulch will help decompose the cardboard into the soil. This is a lengthy process, but is totally worth it if you want to avoid chemicals and digging.
Hydration Station
I don’t think I have to tell you that water is important. If you don’t water plants, they die. Every living thing on planet earth needs a drink of water to live a happy and healthy life, so make sure you can easily water your plants! Follow the directions on your plants as to how often and when you should water them.
Make sure watering your plants is also EASY to do. If you are manually watering, make sure you have a hose that’s long enough, doesn’t kink, and has a nozzle that can easily turn off and on so you don’t waste water.
If you have automatic sprinklers, make sure you set your sprinklers to the proper watering schedule. Check your sprinkler heads from time to time for general maintenance to avoid broken sprinkler heads and over watering. Also consider getting a digital sprinkler timer! Sprinkler timers will help you use your water efficiently by keeping you from over watering.In other words, you will never have to worry about over watering ever again.
Conclusion
While there is a lot to know about gardening, it is truly a rewarding hobby to work with. You get to see the literal fruits of your labor, add beauty to your home, and enrich your life in ways you could never imagine. Some say the happiest people in life are gardeners, and so long as you do the proper research and dedicate your time, you will be too.