There can be many reasons you want to start a garden for the first time. Maybe you want to put your available land to a productive use. Perhaps you like the idea of saving money by growing some of your own food. It’s possible you just want to do it to eat healthier with plants free of pesticides and chemicals, or you just want to minimize the distance your food travels to your table in order to help out the environment.. None of the above might really apply, as you just want something to do outdoors as a break from so much time inside. More than likely, it’s a combination of some or all of these. Whatever the case, it’s a lot easier if you have some tips for first-time gardeners. Keep reading for 7 of them.
1: When you can, pick plant varieties known for their higher yields. In many cases, hybrids that are disease-resistant or cold-tolerant will have higher yields than traditional ones.
2: Get a jumpstart on gardening by presoaking seeds in dark areas. Container gardening indoors works for many plants you can get going weeks or even months in advance before putting into the ground once the weather is ready.
3: Planning out your garden in advance is a great thing to do. Don’t just ‘eyeball’ the spacing of your seeds and plants. Find out what their likely mature sizes are so they have room for full growth, even leaving some room for overgrowth. If you don’t, they might trip over each other and compete for rain, sunlight, and air. That can wind up starving every plant and ruining your garden.
4: Don’t keep the same watering schedule all year long. Different climates and seasons will have different watering depths. Also, some plants go through seasonal cycles where they need more or less water. It’s also best to water root systems rather than leaves so you avoid leaf fungus.
5: Your garden should have a minimum of three inches of organic material as mulch. It nourishes the soil and eventually the plants. It also minimizes weeds and helps the soil retain moisture.
6: Choose local plants whenever you can. They’re already adapted to the local climate and ecology and are more likely to thrive. Exotic or foreign plants might look great or different from the rest of your street, but they’re often too much trouble for first-time gardeners.
7: Do you want more wildlife in your yard? The right plants can attract anything from deer to birds to butterflies. Pick specific plants that lure them in. Also choose protective plants that work as deterrents against pests and critters you don’t want around.
Growing a garden for the first time at home might be harder work than you thought, but you can make your space productive and even beautiful. If you really want to be the envy of your neighbors, have them over for dinner where you serve some of the fresh food that you grew right in your own yard. Use these 7 tips for first-time gardeners to plant great ideas in your mind that blossom into better things later.