Gardening
The thing to remember while gardening is to
start small. A small plant bed, about 25 or 30 feet square is
perfect, is just enough room for about 30 plants. This will give you
a chance to try out your green thumb and if you find that you enjoy
your garden you can always expand and increase your plantings.
The next thing you will want to do is choose a site. Gardening must
be done in an area that gets at least six hours of sunlight. Try and
stay away from large trees that will take your plants water and
nutrients, and at least three feet from any fences or buildings. In
hot climates it is a good idea to choose a place that will have
shade from a part of the intense afternoon sun. It is possible to
have a healthy garden with even ten to twelve hours of sunlight, but
the type of plants must be adaptable. While soil can always be
improved, a site with good soil is a plus. Avoid areas that have
rocky soil, steep slopes, or areas where water stands.
Now comes the fun part: start digging. Gardening is not a clean
hobby; you’re going to have to get some dirt under your nails. First
remove the rocks, debris, and any grass and weeds then dig the spot
up about one foot deep. Level up the dirt and add compost or
minerals if the needed. If your soil is too acidic, add lime; if it
is too sandy, add peat moss. Plants will thrive in neutral to acidic
soil with a little added fertilizer.
If you buy seeds then plant them according to the directions. If
picking plants, choose ones with green, healthy looking leaves and
stems and healthy roots. Put the smaller plants towards the front of
the bed and larger ones in the back. The key to a successful
beginning in gardening is planting at the right time. Make sure and
wait until the frosts are over before planting. If you are planting
seeds the package will usually tell you exactly when you can plant
them to achieve maximum growth.
Once you have started and gotten into gardening, making sure your
plants receive enough water is essential to their growth. Hand
watering works well if you only have a few plants. Other options
include sprinklers or sprinkler hoses. Watering is more effective
during the cooler parts of the day. The type of plant will depend on
how much water is needed, but most require about an inch per week.
During the hottest periods plants will be need watering about three
times per week.
One of the most helpful things to add to a garden is mulch or
compost. Just a few inches of organic mulch will improve fertility
and help the soil hold moisture. Wood chips, grass clippings,
leaves, manure, and pine needles are all things that can be used as
mulch.
About the Author: D. Benjamin is the owner of
iapsales.com LLC - a family business specializing in HVAC products. We
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