Gardening is one of those hobbies that just about anyone can do. However, when it comes to gardening successfully, with a high-yielding, healthy harvest, that’s another matter entirely. If you want a great garden this year, make sure to check out some of the tips below.
One of the first steps in the gardening process is to determine the type of soil you have. Sand, silt, clay and other types of soil will give you different results based on what you want to grow, so figure out your soil type before you decide on what you want to plant.
Not only do you need to know your soil type, but you also have to build up your soil. Your soil should contain many nutrients. It should have the proper pH balance. Building up your soil may require you to supplement it with compost and other additives to ensure the health of your harvest.
Instead of planting your seeds directly in the ground, it helps to give them a head start by starting them indoors. You want to grow seedlings in different containers. This will give you a much higher success rate when you finally transplant the seedling to the garden.
Although there are some plants that can survive in the shade, the overwhelming majority of garden-variety plants need a lot of sun to survive. This means that you should locate them in an area that receives ample sun all day. Not having enough sun will lead to weaker plants.
Your plants also need room to grow. Remember, plants extend well beyond what you can see above the surface. Their root systems spread out and absorb water and nutrients. If they’re crowded, they will compete to the point of dying. Avoid this by spacing your plants properly.
Plants need the right amount of water to survive. Too much water, you risk flooding your plants and harming or even killing them. Too little water, your plants will wither up and die. You should make sure they get a little water every day. If it rains, try to avoid watering further.
Once the plants are in the ground, a lot of gardeners believe that all they need is sunlight and water. However, you should still provide good nutrition for your plants by supplementing them with nutrient-rich mulch and other plant food. Anything that boosts the nutrition of the plants is a good thing.
A leggy plant is a plant with a long stem system and few leaves. This is very common with tomato plants. A good way to support these plants is to plant them deeper as seedlings. However, if they become leggy as they grow, you can build up more mulch around the base to offer further support.
Left unattended, plants will become very bush-like, with wild leaves and stems growing in every direction. This is why proper pruning is a must in a garden. You won’t have to do a lot of work here. When you see a stem growing out of control, literally nip it in the bud. It’s a seconds-long process that will save you a lot of trouble later on.
Gardening doesn’t have to be back-breaking work, nor do you need an encyclopedia’s worth of knowledge to do things properly. By following the few simple tips above, you can start gardening like a pro.