How to Create a Good Garden Space
According to urban myth, good gardeners are endowed with a green thumb. That is not necessarily so. Sometimes, all it takes to make a garden grow is determination and the knowledge that plants require sunshine, water, nutrients and good soil to thrive.
Pick the Plants
Before digging in the dirt, it is important to decide what plants should go in the garden. Vegetable gardens are popular because the rewards are tangible: Fresh produce from your own yard sans food-grade poisons common to store-bought fruits and vegetables. Knowing what seeds or seedlings to plant will also affect the choice of location. Some plants require full sun while others need a shady spot. Soil type and watering intensity will also depend on the kind of plants.
Pick the Right Garden Spot
A backyard garden does not need a large space. Pick a spot that gets enough sunshine. Light requirements will vary depending on the vegetable, herb or flower being planted. The garden spot should be protected safe from pets and wild life, more so if it is a vegetable garden. Water source should be convenient enough for hand watering as necessary.
Pick the Planting Media
Contrary to popular belief, seeds do not sprout from being in the dirt. A successful garden will account for the soil type compatible with the plants. Add a layer of rich, organic garden soil to the garden prior to sowing the seeds or transplanting seedlings. A layer of straw will help to keep the soil moist and the seeds safe from hungry birds.
Plan for Dry Days
In a fair–sized garden, it is important to keep a hose with a sprinkler attachment handy for the dry days. In the early days of the garden, use a soaker hose to keep the planting media moist to encourage seed germination. The soaker hose should be long enough to cover the entire garden so that all the planting areas are sufficiently and evenly watered.
Helping to save resources with a water butt will be a primary consideration of smart gardeners. Incorporating a rain water tank to collect rain fall will ensure that the garden gets adequate watering in the absence of rainfall during the drier season. Tesco’s rain water butt collection and filtration system allows the efficient recycling of rain water runoff.
Protect Growing Plants from Pests, Pets and People
Thin the seedlings at the right time to give healthy plants room to grow. Weed the garden periodically for the same reason. Bug infestations can be managed with homemade brews of soap and water. Chemical pesticides and herbicides should never be used on vegetables. Likewise, discourage pets from using the garden as their waste receptacle.
It takes patience and common sense to grow a garden, but the rewards are well worth the effort when the blooms or the produce are at their peak.
