Garden is one of the best ways of having to control what goes into your system in this era of genetically modified organism (GMO). Under several biotechnological exams, plants, animals and microorganisms have been to wipe off the essential characteristics of these living organisms. To be on the safer side, it is important to start your own backyard garden. Here’s a look into a beginner’s guide to starting a garden.
1. Consider What to plant?
Do you already have what to plant in your garden in mind? If no, then you need decide as to whether a vegetable, herb or flower garden would be your choice. Should you go with either a vegetable or herb garden, one from which you and your family would be eating from for health or just flowers for its beautification purposes or fragrance, then you can choose between having those that blossom perennially or annually. Making this decision before beginning helps you to know exactly what you are doing and how best to start.
2. Pick the Best Garden Spot
Gardens, whether it be for vegetables or flowers need a lot of sunshine. Most often, they should have access to full sun for about 6-8 hours per day for full optimization. A thorough look around would help you determine which areas best fit the spot for the needed daily sunlight and those that are mostly shady. Another thing to consider is the flatness of the chosen area, as it better suits a home and is more easily cultivated that sloping garden which demands more time and is relatively expensive to maintain. Easy access to water is also very important.
Note that different plants and vegetables grow under different circumstances. For instance, coral bells and spotted dead-nettle do well under shade whereas peppers would be better placed under enough sun.
A trip to the local garden center could be vital in helping you understand exactly how some vegetables and plants behavior under whatever conditions.
3. Clear the Ground
After you have chosen your spot, your next step would be clearing the land. You need to prepare the land for the job, whereby removing weeds and uprooting sticks in the area. In spring, you can easily choose between planting cabbage, lettuce, carrots or cilantro just a few examples, you’ll have to remove all sods from the land before you begin to plant.
Another method you can use is the lasagna gardening method, which in this case takes a longer time to get the land ready and goes for people who want to have long-term plans for starting a garden. It involves covering the land with several sheets of newspaper and spreading a 3-inch layer of compost on the newspaper. For four months or thereabout, you’ll be watering the area until there is decomposition before planting can take place.
4. Test and Improve the Soil
Not all lands have soil richness and to be sure your future garden area has rich nutrients, you’ll have to do ‘a soil test’. A two-week long sampling and procedure by a cooperative extension officer would bring results as to whether the land is perfect for the job or educate you on how to better prepare it for the garden. Thanks to modern day technology, you can also use a DIY test to ascertain the soil dense nutrients. Although that works, a layman would find it difficult understanding the readings, which takes us back to visiting the cooperative extension office.
5. Prepare Your Planting Beds
Next step to beginning your garden has to do with the preparation of planting beds. This process seems simple but is very delicate. When you get it right, plants would grow easily and receive the needed water and nutrients in their right amounts. To prepare the soil, you can choose between these two methods; digging by hand or using devices such as a rototiller. Becareful not to overdo amendments when using the rototiller lest you damage the soil structure. As a beginner, stay with digging by hand and begin making small beds and gradually up your way to using a mechanical device when you perfect your skills.
6. Pick Your Plants
By now, you would have already considered which vegetables, herbs or flowers to plant in your new garden. As to when the land is ready either in spring or summer, you can choose to be with perennials or annuals. Some veggies to consider planting in your garden are peppers and tomatoes. For flowers, pansies, phlox, zinnias and sunflowers are the few to choose from.
7. Start Planting
If you kickstarting your garden in spring, then broccoli and scallions are best situated as they are tolerant to cold. Vegetables such as okra, sweet corn and honeydrew melons are best planted in summer as they prefer sunlight. For beginners, it would be good to purchase and transplant young plants as it is the easiest way possible. With little to no experience, you can dig holes, remove plants from containers and transplant them with your hands. Once its in the holes, you cover the root with the soil and water it.
8. Water at the Right Time
Plants need water, lest they dry out. Although they do need water, it is prudent you know the exact times to water them. For instance, having transplanted, you need to water the plants twice in a day (early in the morning and later in the evening) each other day until the roots are firm. Factors such as soil, humidity and rainfall would play big parts in knowing how to continue watering your plants.
9. Mulch Your New Garden
A covering with mulch also helps the plant stay moist and keep out weeds. It is worth noting that this process prevents the sun from hitting the soil, thereby curb the growth of weed from growing around the plant. Mulching over seeds can cause them to germinate and sprout. Here are some mulching techniques to incorporate for various benefits; river rock, shredded bark and straw.
10. Maintain Your Garden Regularly
To enjoy the best results from your garden, you need to water the plants before they died of and constantly remove weeds which steal the nutrients from the plants. Overtime, plug out dead or diseased vegetation and support taller plants with sticks, tepee etc so they don’t break.
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