Now that winter is over, it’s time to give that garden a little tender loving care. If you are looking forward to creating a beautiful garden this year, start with the basics. These tips will help you know where to begin.
First, choose your plants. Make a diagram of the space where you want to put your plants. Decide on the colors that you want to use. To make a bold statement, choose various plants in the same shade of color to make a particular section of your garden stand out. Mix taller and shorter plants for variety and to make sure that all plants can be equally seen.
If you want to save money, grow your plants from seeds. It is cheaper than purchasing full grown plants and you get the benefit of the full bloom. Plants that are already mature are already blooming at the time of purchase. If you are using a few annuals in your garden, once the blooms die, you miss out on the full effect and beauty of the flower in your garden. Adding more perennial flowers will keep your garden going year after year.
Prepare the soil for planting. To do this you first need to know what type of soil you have. Some soil types are harder to grow plants than others. Clay is the worst type of soil while loam is the best. Clay soil does not allow for good drainage. Sand, another soil type, does not hold moisture well which leaves soil dry. Loam will allow water to seep into the soil at an adequate rate that fosters plant growth.
Kits to test the soil pH are available at any home and garden store. The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14, with 7 being neutral. The numbers below seven signify acidity. The numbers above seven represent basic soil pH. If the soil is too acidic for your plants, adding lime will bring the pH back to neutral. If the soil is too basic or alkaline, add iron sulfate in small doses to adjust the pH.
Have the best tools on hand to do the job. A good pair of pruning shears with sharp blades will make cutting a snap when pruning or cutting seedlings for replanting. To avoid a season long battle with weeds, after you prepare the soil, roll out some gardening fabric to stop weeds from sprouting up between your plants. The fabric will allow nutrients and water to still reach the roots.
Gardening is a fun and rewarding activity. Grow beautiful plants that will keep coming back every year. Once you know the basics, the rest will go smoother.
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