5 easy steps to follow for starting your own garden
With spring approaching fast, it is time to consider what you can do to improve your outdoor space a little. Starting your very own garden sure seems like a viable idea, especially when you consider how easy it is and how many benefits such a hobby presents.
That is right – starting your garden only seems difficult at first. The main issue comes from not knowing what to start with and what work to focus on to get things going. Gardening sure is rewarding, but you need to pick up the pace, at least when it comes to landscaping and the initial garden design.
To ease this process, you can check out these easy steps and follow them to the successful start of your beautiful garden:
- Know what you want – do you prefer to grow your delicious vegetable produce? Or maybe you are a fan of having a beautiful flower garden? If it is flowers, you have more choices to make – do you go after annual plants that must be replanted year after year or do you prefer perennials with shorter bloom period which do not require replanting? At the end of the day, you may decide to have a little mix of all, and that is totally fine – it is your garden after all! However, it is important to have an initial idea that will get you motivated and inspired.
- Choose a location – you cannot just randomly plant your garden without giving it any thought first. Most flowers and vegetables require at least six hours of direct sunlight daily to grow healthy. For this reason, you must figure out a spot that provides this resource. Some plants prefer shady spots, as well, so you need to keep these things in mind. Spend a day outside and monitor the garden to see which areas are ideal for growing.
- Ground clearance – you cannot start planting in the sod; instead, this you have to remove this layer first. For the best result, you should dig it out so that it doesn’t remain compacted. Besides, digging out will also clear any weeds, which you have to remove if you are to grow healthy plants. Once you have completed this task, it is a good idea to spread a layer (at least 3 inches thick) of compost, and it will provide much-needed nutrients for any plants you decide to have.
- Soil improvement – organic matter is considered soil’s best friend. Composting decayed leaves, manure and grass clippings will provide much-needed nutrients for your plants to benefit from. If you are digging soil out, you should mix the organic matter with the soil. Even if you leave it on the surface, it will eventually make its way in.
- Pick plants – this is the final, and arguably most exciting part of the garden start up process. You can browse catalogues or visit a gardening centre – it is up to you! Regardless of where you pick your plants from, you should opt for such which adapt to the climate of your area. That way the chance of ruining your gardening attempts is significantly lower.
That sums up most of the process of starting your very own garden. As you can see, there is nothing too complicated and difficult to do, even if you have never done any landscape gardening.