As the days grow nicer and the weather invites us outside, more of us are considering planting a home garden. Maybe it’s a little yard envy or a little Pinterest inspiration, but our inspiration can find us craving a picture-perfect yard and landscape for our homes. While we all know that one person who can achieve idyllic results without breaking a sweat, we obviously know it won’t be an easy task growing, tending, and harvesting an ideal home garden. Thankfully, with a little planning and knowledge, we can turn any patch of dirt into the perfect home garden.
For more information, please scroll through the following guide of tips on how to create the perfect home garden:
Start simple.
One common mistake novice gardeners make is overextending themselves by planting too many plants or choosing high-maintenance plants. Thankfully, we can avoid this trap and save ourselves hours of weeding, pruning, and water. Simply, be realistic when it comes to planning our home gardens. This involves knowing our limits and what we can maintain properly. In the beginning, start with a small plot or basic garden. If you are comfortable gardening, then expand your efforts during the next growing season.
Learn your area’s growing zone and common types of soil.
Do a little research before you start digging to know the best time of year to start your garden and what plants to embrace so they can thrive and survive in your area. A few minutes finding out this information can save you valuable time and money down the road. If you are unsure of the growing zone you live in or what type of soil you have, contact your local extension agency for more information. This knowledge will help you choose the best plants for your garden and landscaping.
Give your soil a boost.
We all know plants are living things and require adequate nutrition to thrive. When creating the perfect home garden, you will need to ensure your soil has adequate nutrients and proper drainage. Many common plants prefer different types of sandy soil, acidic soil, or even clay soil. This diversity makes it essential you have the correct soil type available on your property to support the plant choices you made for your garden. It’s a good idea to have the soil tested before planting to help you determine the types of fertilizer, organic material, or course materials that need to be added so you can set your garden up for success.
Just compost it!
Gardeners, novice and seasoned, can easily save a little money and boost the soil by turning kitchen scraps into compost. Simply, use vegetable or fruit peels, scraps of veggies or fruits, broken egg shells, used coffee grounds, and even yard waste to turn leftovers into free fertilizer to create the perfect home garden.
Watch the light.
Obviously, everyone knows plants need light to grow. However, many of us don’t realize that not all plants require the same amount of daily light. Just consider many veggies and roses need 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight every day but other plants, like impatiens or succulents, don’t require direct light and prefer shady areas. Track the sunlight and shade in your yard to estimate how much sunlight an area typically receives during the day. Then, use this data to help you decide the plants you will want to use when creating your gardening or landscaping.
Be mindful of water.
When creating the perfect home garden, you need to choose plants that will thrive in your climate. For instance, if you live in a dry area it is a good idea to avoid plants that require a lot of water or vice versa. In addition, many experts suggest watering in the early morning hours to prevent evaporation during the heat of the day. It’s also important you can access water easily to prevent lugging around heavy hoses or watering cans to keep your garden growing.
Try companion planting.
In the past, gardeners found some plants tend to do better when planted near each other. A timeless example of this practice is the pairing of pole beans and sweet corn with pumpkins or squash growing between the rows. This will keep down weeds while the corn stalks provide a natural trellis for the beans to climb. Companion planting can also be applied to flowers. Use marigolds in landscaping to naturally repel insects and pests. These annual flowers are cheap, hardy, and offer many vibrant options.
Please share your tips and comments on how to create the perfect home garden below. We would love to hear from you!
Author: Uma Campbell
