Gardening is a fun and rewarding activity that anyone can enjoy. In a survey done in 2018, it was reported that 11% of Americans aged 18 to 29 years old did gardening. 29% are 50 to 64 years old, and 39% are over 65 years old or younger than 18. Therefore, you do not need to feel intimidated if you have not tried gardening before. In this article, we will explore some top gardening tips for beginners.
8 Top Gardening Tips for Beginners
1. Choose the Right Location
Location is very important when you begin gardening. You should put your garden in an area where you can regularly see it. That is because you are likely to work more on it when you see it regularly.
When scouting for a location, you also want to ensure that the gardening spot is near a water source. This will make it easier for you to water your plants. Similarly, you need to consider the sun when finding a spot for your garden.
A common beginner gardener’s mistake is miscalculating the sunlight. Many fruits, vegetables, and herbs must be exposed to the sun for at least 6 hours to grow. Hence, before picking a garden arena, make sure that you consider the sun.
2. Invest in the Right Tools
You cannot practice gardening successfully without the appropriate tools at hand. These include a garden fork, pruners, a hose, a spade, a rake, water-resistant gloves, a wheelbarrow, and a hose or watering can.
3. Test the Soil
When just starting gardening, you need to invest in great soil that drains well and is rich in nutrients. It is recommended to test the soil to ensure that it is healthy enough for your plants. If you want to plant in the ground or raised bed, you can mix all-purpose garden soil with the existing soil.
4. Provide Nutrients to Your Plants Regularly
Besides using the right type of soil, you must also ensure that your plants get the right nutrients. You will more likely succeed in gardening using quality soil and plant food.
5. Use Raised Beds
Anyone new to gardening should consider getting a raised bed. Although this can be expensive initially, it will give you more control over the soil and pests. A raised bed also allows you to grow different plants based on their needs.
6. Pick the Right Plants
Remember that you cannot just plant any plant that you want. You have to choose plants that suit your growing environment. Therefore, place plants that need more sun in a sunny area and pick plants that can tolerate hot weather if you live in a tropical area. If you have adequate space, you can grow melons or pumpkins.
It is best to research well so you can grow your plants well at home. You can also start from young plants if you want to grow herbs and vegetables instead of seeds. Another tip is to never grow your vegetables in the same plot for two or more years. You need to rotate them for your soil to maintain the right nutrients.
7. Understanding the Frost Schedule
You will likely make a huge mistake if you plant too early or late in the season. Therefore, you must know the last average spring frost date in your location so as not to kill your plants. Knowing the first average fall frost date is also helpful in knowing when to move your plants inside your home or harvest them so that the cold weather will not kill them.
8. Add Mulch
Mulch may be worth considering depending on what you are growing. It helps to feed the soil with the right nutrients and protect against soil erosion.
Around every plant, make sure that you put mulch that is 2 to 3 inches deep. This can help to lessen the weeds that block sunlight and reduce moisture loss due to evaporation. As a result, you do not have to water too much. If you don’t have mulch, you can utilize shredded leaves, straws, pine straws, and other available materials in your area.
Whether you are an experienced or a novice gardener, these tips will help you get your garden up and going. You just need to research how to properly grow the plants you want and have some basic gardening tools on hand. Also, learn to be patient since growing plants takes time.
