A Beginner’S Guide to Home Gardening
If you ask any gardener they'll tell you the same thing: there's nothing more relaxing and enjoyable than helping plants to grow. The weekends spent tending weeds and working with the soil produce breathtaking results when correctly maintained. Even though there's a serene quality to working in the garden, the initial stages are anything but calm. It can be daunting to look at your yard and see the future results, especially if you've never attempted a project of this size. From the foundational soil that will support your chosen plants to understanding when to plant certain items, all of these elements must work together to create a beautifully, balanced result. No matter the type of garden you're hoping to begin, it's essential to take into consideration every detail before you begin to provide a visual for the actual layout. Additionally, you can prepare a realistic budget, as you determine the best plants that can grow in your area. It's important to avoid the common mistake of many beginner gardeners and plant too much at once. With a little research and planning, you'll soon master a hobby that can transform the look of your home.
Gear
The trick to mastering gardening is to have the proper tools to make the process much more enjoyable. Without it, you'll find yourself continually frustrated with attempting to remove weeds with ease and work the soil, amongst other tasks. There's an abundance of gardening tools found at your local shop, but the most important ones are often very basic. A trowel can help to dig small holes to plant bulbs and seed, but can also assist you with removing weeds. Make sure you buy gloves to protect your hands from damage that can be caused by rough roots, rocks and other issues. If you're working on a larger garden, make sure to purchase a sturdy wheelbarrow to help move large bags of soil, mulch and other heavy supplies. A large shovel with a round head is also ideal for larger projects that require big holes, such as planting a bush. Use a rake to spread mulch and remove debris like weeds from the garden space. Shears are essentially garden scissors that can help with trimming back the plants. Lastly, be certain to purchase a wide-brimmed garden hat to protect yourself from harmful UV rays. Heatstroke and severe sunburns are common issues of unprepared gardeners.
Type of Garden
You first need an initial plan of the type of garden you want to create. Some can even be planted in a way that you can incorporate different plants together. Vegetable gardens can be lined with flowers around the space, while herbs can easily be grown in both types. Once the type has been chosen, you'll need to research the plants that will best grow in your area and the species with the ability to thrive together as they grow. For example, some plants struggle to bloom in an incredibly hot climate, while others need the constant warmth. Understand your climate and soil type; make sure you head to your local garden shop to verify these facts and talk with a professional that understands the basics.
Placement
The majority of plants will need to receive at least six hours of sunlight each day to flourish. The best way to determine this is to look over your yard and spend some time in the area to establish the amount of sunlight. Make sure there's an equal amount to sunlight to shade, but also keep in mind there are plants that do well in shade, as well. You can verify this information by talking with the local garden center or even viewing the tags on the seed packages or plants. Make sure there's easy access to the hose near the chosen area, to avoid repeated trips to water the garden. The last step is to determine if you'll need to create a raised bed, use a container or plant directly into the ground. Each has benefits, which you can determine with another visit to the garden center or through online research.
Sod Removal
Clear the chosen area of the sod on the top of the soil. This can hinder growth and development of plants. The fastest way to remove this is by digging it out, especially if you are plagued with troublesome weeds. But to enrich the soil and remove the sod, you should cover the area with either five layers of newspaper or compost. The process takes about four months to complete, and needs to be done before you create a raised bed.
Gear
The trick to mastering gardening is to have the proper tools to make the process much more enjoyable. Without it, you'll find yourself continually frustrated with attempting to remove weeds with ease and work the soil, amongst other tasks. There's an abundance of gardening tools found at your local shop, but the most important ones are often very basic. A trowel can help to dig small holes to plant bulbs and seed, but can also assist you with removing weeds. Make sure you buy gloves to protect your hands from damage that can be caused by rough roots, rocks and other issues. If you're working on a larger garden, make sure to purchase a sturdy wheelbarrow to help move large bags of soil, mulch and other heavy supplies. A large shovel with a round head is also ideal for larger projects that require big holes, such as planting a bush. Use a rake to spread mulch and remove debris like weeds from the garden space. Shears are essentially garden scissors that can help with trimming back the plants. Lastly, be certain to purchase a wide-brimmed garden hat to protect yourself from harmful UV rays. Heatstroke and severe sunburns are common issues of unprepared gardeners.
Type of Garden
You first need an initial plan of the type of garden you want to create. Some can even be planted in a way that you can incorporate different plants together. Vegetable gardens can be lined with flowers around the space, while herbs can easily be grown in both types. Once the type has been chosen, you'll need to research the plants that will best grow in your area and the species with the ability to thrive together as they grow. For example, some plants struggle to bloom in an incredibly hot climate, while others need the constant warmth. Understand your climate and soil type; make sure you head to your local garden shop to verify these facts and talk with a professional that understands the basics.
Placement
The majority of plants will need to receive at least six hours of sunlight each day to flourish. The best way to determine this is to look over your yard and spend some time in the area to establish the amount of sunlight. Make sure there's an equal amount to sunlight to shade, but also keep in mind there are plants that do well in shade, as well. You can verify this information by talking with the local garden center or even viewing the tags on the seed packages or plants. Make sure there's easy access to the hose near the chosen area, to avoid repeated trips to water the garden. The last step is to determine if you'll need to create a raised bed, use a container or plant directly into the ground. Each has benefits, which you can determine with another visit to the garden center or through online research.
Sod Removal
Clear the chosen area of the sod on the top of the soil. This can hinder growth and development of plants. The fastest way to remove this is by digging it out, especially if you are plagued with troublesome weeds. But to enrich the soil and remove the sod, you should cover the area with either five layers of newspaper or compost. The process takes about four months to complete, and needs to be done before you create a raised bed.
