Thread: What It Is Like To Start A Garden

What It Is Like To Start A Garden




When you first get into gardening, you need to start small, while you are learning. If you have a place that is 25 or 30 square feet, which is enough room for 30 plants, that will be a perfect plant bed. This amount of space will be big enough for you to see if you have a green thumb, but isn't so big that you will burn out from the work. Once you get some experience, your garden can always be expanded.


The ideal location for your new garden, needs to be where there will be at least six hours of sunlight. Don't be too close to large trees, because they will take water and nutrients away from the plants. It is also a good idea to stay away from buildings or fences by at least three feet. If you are situated in a hot climate, you will want your plants to have some shade during the hot sun in the afternoon. You can still have a healthy garden with the intense heat, but you will need adaptable plants. Your garden will do better if it is planted in good soil, but the soil can be improved. You should avoid areas where the water stands, steep slopes or rocky soil.


Once you have your preparation finished, it is time for having fun, as you start digging in the dirt. You will get dirty, because doing a garden as a hobby is not clean. Before you do any planting, you will need to get rid of all the debris, rocks, grass and weeds. Next, dig up the ground, about a foot deep, level it up, and add minerals or compost, if it is needed. Add some lime, if your soil is too acidic, and some peat moss, if it is too sandy. With a little added fertilizer, your plants will thrive in neutral to acidic soil. Follow all of the directions, when you buy seeds to plant. When choosing plants instead, find ones that have healthy roots, and leaves and stems, that are green and healthy looking.


The large plants should be in the back part of the bed, while the smaller ones are in the front. To be successful, you need to plant at the right time, waiting until the frosts are over with. When planting seeds, the package will give you good instructions on when to plant. After you have finished all of the planting, you need to make sure your plants are getting the right amount of water. With only a few plants, you can water them by hand, or you can use a sprinkler.


If you do your watering in the cooler parts of the day, it will be more effective. How much water is needed depends on the plant, but most need about an inch of water every week. During hotter times, this will work out to about three times a week. Now it is just a matter of watching your plants grow.