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How to Start a Home Garden
A garden can be a lot of work, but it is also
enjoyable to work on and ultimately very rewarding.
Here are some helpful tips for those thinking
of starting and maintaining a home garden:
1.) Choose plants you like.
Never feel obligated to grow a plant that you
don't like, even if it may seem traditional or
expected to grow a certain plant that you dislike.
Gardening should be done for one's enjoyment,
so make sure that you will be happy with your
result.
2.) Find the right space.
Make sure that you have enough space designated
for your garden. Prepare an appropriately sized
area, and make sure it gets plenty of sun. The
space should also have good soil; if it does not
have good soil, simply add fertilizer.
3.) Make do with what you have.
If you have limited space, make sure that the
plants you choose are relatively small. This way,
each plant won't encroach on the space that its
neighbors need to grow.
4.) Group plants strategically.
Arrange your plants by height. Not only will doing
this contribute positively to the aesthetic of
your garden, but it will prevent taller plants
from towering over shorter plants, hiding them
from view and blocking them from the sun's rays.
5.) Label your plants.
Be sure to label everything you grow, so you know
what is! It is nice to know which flowers are
which, and very useful to know the identities
of the edible plants you grow.
6.) Weed your garden.
Remove all weeds from the area in which you plan
to plant, and be sure to maintain a weed-free
space as your plants grow.
7.) Use garden stakes.
Stake up plants that creep to ensure that they
do not encroach on the space that any neighboring
plants may need.
8.) Consider spacing.
Plant seedlings with plenty of room. Plants start
small, but require adequate space into which to
grow and from which to derive the nutrients they
need.
9.) Protect your garden from animals.
Use a small chicken-wire fence to protect your
garden from unwanted visits from critters. There
is little more frustrating than spending months
tending your crops, only to have them destroyed
right before it is time to pick.
10.) Do not over or under water your
crops.
Most know that under-watering seedlings can stunt
their growth, but over-watering is also harmful.
If you over-water your plants, they will not develop
the strong root system that they require to flourish.
If you start by over watering the plants will
not develop the strong root system required for
the plants to flourish. If you underwater seedlings
their growth will be stunted.
Of course, the most important advice to offer
is to enjoy yourself! Remember that gardening
should be fun, not work.
About the Author:
Maddison Hendrix is a long time gardner and shares
her knowledge in educational articles at Perennial
Gardens http://www.perennial-gardens.com
and Butterfly Gardens http://www.butterfly-gardens.com
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