Beginner Gardening Tips
Ensure your garden gets regular attention. Watering is important, especially in the summer.
Start with simple vegetables such as peas or radishes. These plants are fast and productive.
Garden centers sell seedlings and bedding plants, which are sometimes called readymade plants. Follow the directions on the label to plant them in your garden beds.
Know Your Soil
The soil you use to plant your garden is the basis of a productive garden. A healthy soil is vital for plants to thrive and produce abundant harvests. In the rush to get plants into the ground, it's easy to overlook. If you neglect your soil it will show up in your flowers, vegetables and shrubs.
Getting to know the soil you are in is easy. Take the grass and the top two inches of soil from the garden. Then, dig down to the depth of one spoon in each place in which you plan to plant something. Place the dirt on the bag or sheet and examine it: Is it dark brown, sandy or sticky? Does it smell bad or nice? Are there any loose or clumpy areas? If you see earthworm burrows, this is a positive sign because they aerate the soil and consume organic matter.
You can also test your soil's texture by digging up some soil and then pressing it into your hand. If the soil stays in a ball when you release your grip then it is clay based. Sandal soils will easily lose their shape. Mixing mud in a glass jar is a different way to test your soil. Fill the jar about two-thirds of the way, then add your garden soil until it's covered the remainder of the jar. Shake the mixture, and let it settle for several days. Clay-based soils rise on the surface, while peaty and sandy soils have a layered appearance and loamy soils remain clear with fine particles at the bottom.
It is possible to improve the quality of your soil by regularly adding organic matter. All soil types benefit from an abundance of compost, shredded leaves, grass clippings or other organic matter that breaks down over time and adds nutrients to the soil. However, it is important to be sure to balance the quantity of brown and green organic matter you use because excessive amounts of both could cause a loss of nitrogen in soil, which can also harm your garden.
Know Your Plants
Many gardeners who are new make the mistake of planting too much at once. Start with a small amount to get a feel of how much gardening time it takes. It's easier to maintain a small garden than a larger one.
It's important to know your plants to be able to recognize them. This can be accomplished by studying the branching patterns of each species. This is how botanists are able to quickly identify a plant's species.
Another thing to pay attention to is the plant's growth habits. Certain plants grow faster and more than others, whereas others produce more fruits or vegetables. Ask the staff at the local nursery for advice if you are unsure of the type of plant you should purchase. They can provide you with information about your growing zone, frost dates and what varieties of vegetables, flowers and herbs do best in your region.
Beginner gardeners should learn how to properly prune and remove their garden weeds. This is a great way to avoid overgrowth, maintain the soil's health and protect the plants from pests. This will help you determine the amount of maintenance each plant requires and how often you should tend to it.
You can also invest in drip irrigation systems or a garden hose to water your plants easily in hot weather. It's impossible for a newbie gardener to carry a watering container to thirsty plants during an extreme heat wave.
Remember that most plants need a soil that is at the very least moderately fertile and well-drained. If you find that your soil is not providing enough nutrients, consider adding some organic matter to it. You can make your own liquid fertilizer making tea using dandelion or yarrow or seaweed. Be careful not to overdo the fertilizer because too much could cause harm to your plants. Spray sulfur-based fungicide onto the leaves of your plants when you spot mildew or fungus.
Know Your Pests
In order to keep pests out is a further important aspect for gardeners who are just beginning their journey. It's best to use organic gardening techniques as often as you can and learn to recognize early signs of an infestation. You may be able to prevent a full-blown infestation when you recognize the problem in its earliest stages.
You'll need a keen eye to watch for the subtle signs of pests. Check for stippling, bronzed edges on the leaves, buds that have turned discolored and other signs that indicate. You'll also want to inspect the soil on a regular basis. It should be moist, but not dripping with water. Too much moisture can encourage root decay and plant diseases. If your soil is dry, consider adding more organic material or a soaker hose set on a timer.
If you believe the issue is severe enough to warrant chemical treatment, make certain to identify the insects. Some are harmless to plants and may serve a purpose, such as aerating the soil or dissolving dead organic matter. Some are more harmful than others, such as cutworms and grubs. They can girdle seedlings and dig deep into the roots of an established plant.
One way to minimize the number of harmful pests is to put down a layer of mulch. It protects your soil from the sun and regulate its temperature. It can even help prevent erosion. The best kinds of mulch for vegetable gardens are straw, wood chips or compost.
The location of your garden plot is also important. It must be accessible for you to tend the plants, and it should be easy to get to water sources. Nothing burns out a newbie faster than having to lug water during the scorching summer heat, and there's no better investment for your plants than a high quality hose that has a dripper attachment or a sprayer irrigation system on a timer.
Beginners should take into consideration the needs of both people and animals that will be in their garden. Some plants are toxic to dogs and cats, including lilies, oleanders and roses.
Be aware of your sun's rays
Like soil and water in a garden, sunlight an essential element. Photosynthesis is one of the most important elements in assisting plants to produce their food. The sun's rays penetrate through leaves, captures chlorophyll molecules, and mixes them with carbon dioxide and water to create oxygen and sugars that plants use for growth and to help them through times of stress.
It is crucial to know the amount of light your garden gets at different periods of the day, and throughout the year. Certain plants require full sun while others can grow in partial, filtered, or even shade. Taking note of your garden's sun requirements is crucial as it will help you choose the appropriate plants for your space and avoid the stress of having to remove the entire crop because it was not able to grow.
It's not as simple as stepping out and observing the shadows to determine the needs of your garden. The patterns of sunlight are constantly changing and can change drastically over a year. raised garden beds is particularly evident in New England where the sun's position above the horizon can change by 50 degrees from summer to winter. This means that if you observe a certain pattern today, that same pattern will likely be quite different in 5 - 10 to 15 years.
The best way to assess your garden's patterns of sunlight is to draw an image of the sun. Take some tracing sheets and sketch out the outline of your property. Then, starting in the early morning, just after sunrise, take a look at your garden space to see what it is exposed to and take notes of it. Repeat this throughout the day and stop about an hour before sunset. You should soon be able see how your garden varies between full sun and partial sun, as well as filtered shade and sun. You can then begin to plan your garden.