Gardening for dummies – Everything you wanted to know but were too afraid to ask

Gardening

There are many reasons why a person may take a new interest in gardening. Is it because you are looking for a new hobby that can serve as a stress relief from the day to day pressures of your career? Perhaps it is because you wish to grow your own vegetables or herbs as a way of reducing your food costs? Others may chose to plant a garden as a way to teach children about nurturing and the cycles of life. No matter what your reason, if you are a novice to this area and don’t know where to start, read on through this gardening for dummies guide and become enlightened.

The first thing you need to decide on when you wish to have a garden is where it will be located. The climate of your state needs to be taken into consideration when you are making this decision. Plants do not grow well in temperatures over 90 degrees so if your state has summer months hotter than this, then look to place your garden in a spot where it will receive morning sun and afternoon shade. Additionally, you want to be able to view your garden and take pleasure from it so an area where it can be viewed from your dining windows or your back patio may also be desirable.

Next do a little planning for your garden to decide what you are going to grow and where you would like to place these plants. Make sure you do careful research as some plants grow quite large so they need a lot of room around them. Draw up a simple blueprint design that you can refer to when it comes time to putting your plants into the ground.

The next advice in your gardening for dummies guide is about purchasing the right tools for the job. You do not have to go overboard and spend a lot of money on gardening equipment like zero turn lawnmowers which costs $2000 to $6000 depending upon the size and features. However, an investment in a good quality water hose, rake and shovel will not go amiss. Gardening stakes will also be of use if you plan to grow plants that achieve considerable height. If you need a little extra help, consider contacting a professional lawn care company such as TruGreen Virginia.

Now you are ready to prepare the ground ready for planting. Turn over the planting area with a ground fork and loosen up that soil that has been compacted for some time. Adding a layer of manure and mixing it into the top level of your soil will not only help with water drainage, but it will also add the necessary fertilizer need for good quality plants too.

Now you can plant your plants according to your blueprint design. Make sure you water them regularly so that they can grow well. Watering in the morning means that your plants can dry out during the day, but watering at night means less moisture will be lost through evaporation.

Now that you have read this gardening for dummies guide you should be well prepared to get outside and get your garden underway. Do not be afraid to ask for advice from gardening centers or friends and family if your garden does not perform as you wish. Advice from experienced gardeners will help you to achieve the plants you have dreamed of.