One of the best parts about moving into a new home is the opportunity to customize the space to suit your needs and style. Making your home truly your own inside and out brings a feeling of pride and accomplishment. If your new home has space for a garden, now is the time to try out your green thumb.
Gardening can bring a sense of order and calmness to the chaos of our lives. While yard work, landscaping, and gardening can be a challenge for beginners, some hard work and dedication can make your yard the envy of all your neighbors. You will also benefit from yummy homegrown herbs and vegetables that can boost your immune system. Plus, gardening is a fun activity that the whole family can get involved in! Here are some tips to help you envision a space where you can enjoy the beauty of nature in your very own yard.
How to Build Your First Garden
● Select an area for your garden. The goal is to select enough garden space to meet your needs without taking away from your ability to enjoy the backyard with your family. You also need to consider which vegetables you plan on growing as some plants take up more space. And don’t forget to check for sunlight. Most vegetables and herbs need at least 6 hours of direct daylight each day.
● Clear the garden area. Once you have selected your spot, ensure the site is free of grass, debris, and leaves. Dig or till the soil before planting to freshen it up and allow roots to penetrate the soil more easily. Another popular idea is to use raised planting beds. They allow for a longer growing season with better drainage and fewer weeds.
● Prepare the soil in your garden. The more fertile the soil, the better your garden will grow. Unless you purchase pre-fertilized soil, most soil will not contain the nutrients your garden needs to thrive. The only way to truly determine the level of nutrients in your soil is to test it. These are usually available for free or at a low cost from your local cooperative extension. The test results will give the information you need to fertilize the soil.
● Decide what to plant in your garden. You want to select plants that will grow well in the area where you live and in the space that you have available. Create a design that will give each plant room to grow, considering the height and width at maturity.
● Select healthy plants for your garden. Before purchasing, check the entire plant for insects and look for plants with leaves that are green, shiny, and lush. Purchasing flowers in the bud stage instead of the flowering stage will provide a longer bloom time at home.
● Plant your garden. This is the very best part! When placing seeds or plants into the soil, it is vital that you carefully follow the depth and spacing directions for each type of plant. When ready, dig a hole in the soil, place the plant or seed in the hole at the appropriate depth, fill in soil around the plant, then gently pat it down. This will give everything in your garden the best chance at reaching its potential.
● Add some mulch. Applying a layer of mulch 2-3 inches deep around each plant will reduce weeds and reduce moisture loss through evaporation. Using an organic mulch, such as bark, compost, or cocoa bean shells, will nourish the soil as it decomposes.
● Keep your garden watered. Sunny, windy conditions dry out soil more quickly than cool, cloudy weather. A rule of thumb for watering is that plants need around one inch of water per week during the growing season. If you are unsure if your plants require water, press your fingers into the soil about 3 to 4 inches below the surface. If it feels dry, it’s time to water.
● Attract the birds. For some natural pest control, incorporate bird baths or birdhouses into your yard. Birds will help control the pests that frequently attack gardens, all while leaving friendly insects such as spiders or ladybugs alone.
● Incorporate some structural interest. Add some dimension and structure to your garden with gates, fences, arches, statues, decorative pots, pavers, a water feature, or a bench to sit and admire all of your handiwork. Climbing plants like ivy, wisteria, jasmine, and clematis will look beautiful wrapped around your garden structures.
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