Beginner's Guide to Gardening
Beginners may find gardening intimidating. Start small and gradually build your skills.
Try cultivating vegetables that are easy to grow, like beans, peas and radishes. Take a walk through the garden every morning, especially while the watering system is on. This will help you spot problems while they are still small and easily manageable.
Choose Your Plants Be Careful
If you are a beginner gardener it is essential to select plants that grow easily and require minimal maintenance. This means avoiding tropical plants that are unlikely to thrive in your climate, and selecting flowers, vegetables or herbs that are thriving in your area. If you live in an area that is sunny and warm it is possible to grow easy-to-grow herbs or vegetables like peppers. Or, if raised garden beds have a shaded spot in your yard it is possible to plant flowers on the ground such as thyme, lilyturf or meadow rue to fill the space.
You can also grow herbs and flowers that attract butterflies and hummingbirds to your yard for added enjoyment. When choosing plants, it's important to think about the amount of time you would like to devote to your garden. Certain plants require more attention than others, and some will need to be pruned or weeded frequently.
Planting too much is among the most common mistakes made by novices. It is better to start with a small area and work your way up than trying to take on too many things at one time. If you're looking to grow an organic vegetable garden for yourself and your family, only plant the vegetables that you'll eat. Avoid growing crops like squash or corn, as they are difficult to grow.
Know Your Soil Type
It's important to think about which plants can thrive in your soil prior to deciding to begin your garden. Some plants require specific conditions like moist and rich soils, while others prefer clay or sand-based soils.
The type of soil in your yard will determine the number of vegetables and fruits you can successfully grow. To find out the type of soil you have, try the "finger test." The first step is to dampen some dirt and rub it between your fingers. Clay soil is sticky and leaves a slimy film on the tips of your fingers. Sandy soil has fine particles that break easily. Silty soil is characterized by a powder-like texture, and peaty soil feels spongy.
Loamy soil is the perfect mix of sand and silt. This type of soil is ideal for gardening, lawns and shrubs. It is rich in nutrients and retains moisture. It gets warm quickly in spring and summer, and is easy to cultivate. It also tends to be acidic. If your soil isn't loamy, adding organic matter can enhance its properties.
Don't forget to think about water!
Whether you're growing flowers, vegetables or both be aware that plants require regular watering. For gardeners who are just beginning, this may seem like an overwhelming task in case you're not accustomed to it, but it's essential to the health of your plants.
Make sure that your new garden is located near a source of water and you will not have to go on long walks with the hose, or carrying buckets to fill them up. Also make sure to water your garden every week (depending on weather conditions). If you water your garden, soak the soil instead of watering it. The aim is to moisten up the soil to ensure that you have enough water.
If you're planning to plant an outdoor vegetable garden, you should choose plants that are easy to grow for beginners. Peas and radishes for instance, are simple to cultivate and produce delicious food. Sunflowers, Nigella, and pansies are low-maintenance and easy flowers. Avoid more complicated flowers like roses and lilies until you gain some experience. Check that the plants you select are suitable for your climate zone. This information can be found on the label of the plant or in your gardening manual.
Mulching is Important!
Many gardeners imagine wheelbarrows, shovels and dust-covered arms when they think of mulch. However, a layer of mulch that is well-placed could be among the most beneficial things you can do for your plants, flowers or fruit trees.
Mulch is a great way to keep the soil moist and to ward off weeds. Organic matter is added to the soil which enhances its health over time. It can help in bringing soils made of sand together, and break up clay soils. It is a great habitat for beneficial insects, and it makes the landscape more beautiful.
Additionally, a layer of well-placed mulch moderates soil temperature, making it cooler during hot summer days and warmer during cold autumn and spring evenings. This is beneficial to the plants, as it helps them absorb water more easily.
Mulch shouldn't be sprayed too thickly around young seedlings or plants that trail, like thyme and strawberries (remember to pull out the roots of dandelion before applying mulch). The ideal thickness is 2 to three inches for perennials and smaller plants, and three to four inches for trees and shrubs. The most commonly used organic materials include the shredded leaves, bark or wood chips grass clippings, compost.
Don't Forget About Fertilizing
Gardening isn't a stroll in the park, and that goes for all levels of gardeners. It is important to consider the requirements of your plants, and fertilizing is among those tasks. It may be daunting for novice gardeners however it's very simple and necessary!
Fertilizing isn't just about supplying your plants with nutrients, it's also about timing. You should fertilize during the growth period, which is spring through autumn.
The key is to use organic or ecologically grown fertilizers. You can find many options at local gardening stores and online retailers.
Don't overlook the fact that there are vegetables that are easier for novice gardeners to cultivate than others. Peas and radishes are easy to grow to grow, and don't require much in the way of support (just bamboo canes). If you're looking for something a bit more complex, you can try blueberries, strawberries, or tomatoes. They all require a little support however they're not too hard for a beginner to cultivate. Just remember that they will require regular watering and weeding, and be prepared for lots of work!
Don't forget about Pest Control
A healthy garden attracts beneficial insects which eat the plants and protect them from pests. This symbiotic alliance is more effective than spraying chemicals, which harm both good bugs and the bad ones.
New gardeners are often so excited about their plants, they plant them without taking into account their individual requirements. This can lead overcrowding and incompatibility, and failure. Watch the sun in the summer, spring, and fall to see the amount of sun your plants are receiving. If you notice that a plant does not flourish then move it to a spot that receives more sunlight.
Regular weeding will also help. Weeds can steal light, nutrients, and water away from the plants you would like to cultivate. So, weeding regularly is essential. Be cautious when applying fertilizer. Too much can damage the soil microorganisms, and kill beneficial insects that are found underground. The best fertilizer is organic, slow-release, and not a lot of concentrated. Avoid rototilling your garden also, as it can be detrimental to the earth's vital microorganisms. Rather than rototilling, go for "no-dig" gardening methods that will protect the earthworms as well as other beneficial organisms that enrich your soil.
raised garden beds forget about Animals
It's an enormous amount of work to learn about gardening but it can be a lot of fun. When you have a small area of garden, it's an absolute pleasure to stroll through your garden each day and observe what's growing. Tiny tomatoes are appearing everywhere pollinators are circling the squash blossoms and hummingbirds are flitting between the beans. It's a great feeling to watch something edible develop out of your hands.
Once you have mastered the basics, garden ing is easy for newbies. Find a sunny spot, amend the soil using organic materials of the highest quality, then plant seeds or seedlings, and water frequently. Many vegetables and herbs are easy to grow from seed and even the more difficult plants--like blueberries--can be grown in pots if you follow the instructions on their packaging.
Adding raised garden beds --like a pond or log pile is an excellent idea. If you have problems with unwanted animals, keep trash and food out of their reach (raccoons are particularly adept at snatching garbage from bins) and trim any dead fruit or flowers as early as you can. It's also recommended to cut back herbaceous plants like lavender or thyme once they have finished blooming (usually in late summer or early autumn) and to select native plants that native animals recognize as food sources.