If you’re thinking about taking up gardening, there are a few things you should know before getting started. Gardening can be a rewarding and therapeutic activity.
Still, it does require some preparation and effort to get the most out of it. From deer fencing to the right tools, preparation is key.
To avoid frustrating yourself and having to start over and over, consider following these five essential tips for beginners.
1. Have the Right Tools
You can do gardening with nothing more than your hands, but having the right tools to get the job done will make things go much faster. Paring down a list of essential gardening tools is almost impossible because everyone’s garden is different. Still, there are some useful ones you can’t go without.
One of the best gardening tools for beginners is battery-powered chainsaws. If you live in a rural area with lots of trees, branches and stumps covered in moss can be too much for your weed whacker to handle. That’s where this equipment comes in handy. Moreover, you can also visit toolpip.com to find a great variety of chainsaws at quite reasonable rates.
Other supplies you need are gloves, a trowel or spade, a rake, an edger, and a kneeler. With these items, you can tackle anything from weeding to planting. It’s also helpful to have a wheelbarrow or wagon, so you don’t have to carry soil and other materials yourself.
2. Know Your Soil Type
The soil has to be healthy and productive for your garden to succeed. Some soil types include clay, sand, silt, loam, gravel, and rock.
Ask your local garden center what kind of soil you have in your yard. It will allow the experts to provide the best advice for gardening in that area.
You can also find out your soil type by taking a sample of the dirt in your garden to the local cooperative extension service. These groups can suggest tips for fertilizing or planting certain kinds of vegetables well-suited for your garden.
3. Know Your Weather and Plan Accordingly
Depending on where you live, gardening can be a year-round activity. However, it’s only possible to plant certain crops at specific times in most areas.
Suppose you’re new to gardening and aren’t sure what grows best when. You can consider planting an herb garden and ensure a variety of seasonally relevant veggies and fruits.
Alternatively, you can find out what grows best around your area by finding a local gardening club through the American Horticulture Society (AHS). You can also visit your cooperative extension service website.
After reading the last tips, you might tempt yourself to go out and buy a bunch of seeds and get started gardening. Before you do, keep in mind that your conditions will affect how well your plants grow.
If you live in an area where the growing season is long, look for crops that grow well under heat and drought conditions. If your spring is filled with rain and snow, find helpful plants that can survive during cold months, such as spinach and broccoli.
4. Keep Your Garden Organized
Before planting your garden, determine which vegetables and flowers you want to grow to help you plan your garden layout. This way, everything has the right amount of space to grow and looks aesthetically pleasing.
When it comes time to plants, follow a basic organizational pattern, such as planting tall plants in the back and short plants in front. That way, they don’t block each other from view.
You can also use a garden rake to create ridges and furrows in the soil to help your plants grow better and act as pathways through your garden.
5. Get Out There and Garden
Once you’ve done your research, ordered your seeds or transplants, and determined when it’s the right time to plant them in your area, all that’s left is to get started gardening!
If you’re planting a new bed, use a garden rake to work up the soil. That way, it’s loose and easy for your plants to grow in. Also, make sure it’s nice and level. Don’t forget to water your plants regularly during the early stages of growth. It will be critical for healthy development.
Weeding is probably the most dreaded part of gardening, but it’s also one essential skill you need to master. It’s best to remove weeds before they flower, not to take nutrients away from your plants. Use either your hands or a trowel to pull out the weeds, depending on how sturdy your plants are. Lift the weed out of the ground at an angle. With this technique, you can get rid of as much of its root system as possible.
Planting veggies can be a lot of fun. But don’t get discouraged if you only grow small crops (and sometimes, none at all!) each year. The more you garden, the better your chances for a bountiful harvest.