The most beneficial thing to mention if you are a first time gardener is to begin small-scale. A modest plant bed, no greater than 25 to 30 feet square is the perfect size. This area will allow for 1 plant for about every square foot. This way you can try out your gardening skills without becoming frustrated. You can then spread out your gardening area as your skills evolve.
Preparing the Garden
The first step is to pick out your gardening location. A field or back yard that gets a minimum of 6 hours of sunshine per day is most effective for gardening. Try to stay away from big trees, as they will take your plants’ moisture and foods from the ground. You likewise need to stay at least one yard from fences, buildings or other structures. In hot environmental conditions, it is a good thought to place the garden in a location where the sunshine will be partial or indirect during the vivid mid-afternoon sun. A hearty garden can live with 10 to 12 hours of sun per day, providing the plants are flexible. Land can always be amended, but a poor site is much less manageable to improve. Stay away from any areas that have standing water, steep inclines, or rocky soil.
Now the play part starts, begin digging! Since gardening is not a neat hobby, you must be prepared to get your hands dirty. This is not a project for those with high-ticket manicures. First remove all the rocks, debris, and any weeds from the area. You must dig up the expanse to about one foot deep. Level the soil and then add compost, or minerals as needed. If the soil is acidic, use lime. If it is sandy add peat moss. Plants will produce in a neutral to acid soil if a little fertilizer is added. However, don’t estimate, invest in a soil test kit to be sure. Another tip to remember with soil amendments: less is more. Some, like manure and fertilizer, can actually harm plants if applied incorrectly.
Seeds should be set in the soil following the package instructions. If planting plants, choose green healthy looking leaves and stems and healthy roots. The plants should be planted with the bigger size plants at the rear and the smaller ones toward the front. Think about the size of the plant at maturity.
The key to gardening is to establish plants at the correct time. Don’t get over anxious and plant before the frost has completed, as it may likely kill your plants. Seed packets in general have information regarding the right planting time in your area.
Watering
Making sure that your plants get enough water is crucial to their development. Hand watering works well if you only have a few plants. Other considerations include sprinklers or sprinkler hoses. Watering is most efficient if exercised during the cooler parts of the day. Most plants call for about 1 inch of water per week, but this depends on the plant and the variety. During the most blistering part of summer, plants will require water approximately three times per week.
One laborsaving idea is to increase your garden mulch or compost. Just a few inches of natural compost will improve the richness of the soil and help to control moisture. Wood chips, grass clippings, leaves, and pine needles can all be used as mulch.
Melissa Slate - Melissa Slate has been a registered nurse for over 15 years. She has enjoyed many different functions in nursing, but her primary ...
