Start simple! One of
the worst things that could happen is to plant an amazing garden and then not
be able to maintain it. Start with a
small garden and containers and when you’re comfortable, grow. Add more flowers when you know you have the
time and interest to take care of them.
You’ll get new and more exciting ideas as time goes on.
Pick the right plants.
Do some research and study what your area is like. Jot down what areas around your yard get what
kind of sunlight. This will help you
determine which type of plants will thrive around your home. Take note of where your water access is. Place plants in an area that is easily
accessible to water; whether that is from a sprinkler system or by hand
watering with a hose. Daylilies
typically are a great choice. They’re
mostly pest resistant and are a fairly no fuss perennial.
Off with their heads!
By which I mean deadheading, of course!
Deadheading can be a boring task but it certainly pays off. Deadhead your plants to maintain their beauty
in your garden and containers. This will
also help promote extra bud bloom on some plants. Deadheading also prevents the spread of
plants as many heads are full of seeds which drop after they have dried
out.
Spread 1-2 inches of mulch over your garden bed. This may seem silly, but it will help stop
the growth of weeds and help your soil retain its moisture on hot days; requiring
you to water less. An organic mulch such
as shredded bark will also help add nutrients to the soil as it decomposes (a
natural compost.)
Start a garden journal.
Take notes on weather conditions each month. You can keep notes on what plants you put in
garden beds and containers each year; what you liked and didn’t like. This is a great spot to make notes about new
ideas for next year. Take lots of
pictures throughout the gardening season so you have record of how your beds
looked at different times.
Edged beds look sharp.
Whether you use a paver stone or a plastic edging, it makes a garden
look complete. You’ll want to put the
edging a few inches into the ground to prevent grass roots from creeping under
the edging and into your garden. You put
all of that hard work into the garden to have it be taken over by grass! A new trend in edging is to have edging that
lays flat with the grass, so a lawn mower can go right over the top. No need to go along with a weed whacker to
get a clean edge!
Raised beds have become very popular over the last couple
years. If you’re planning on putting one
in, make sure that it is small enough so that you can reach all areas from both
sides. Raised beds help to save your
back and knees as well. Fill your raised
beds with a mixture of compost and top soil for the perfect growing
conditions. A raised bed also drains
better than a traditional ground bed and they warm faster in the spring so you
can get an earlier start!
Get rid of weeds before they get out of control! Baby weeds are easier to completely remove
from the ground. Another plus of pulling
those weeds early, you’ll prevent the reproduction of the weed. A quick walk around your gardens every few
days will work wonders.
Have you tried using a soaker hose before? If you have the hose availability for a
soaker hose, they’re certainly worth the effort! They help you save time, energy and money
spent on watering. Water seeps out of
the length of the hose which is set within your gardens. You’ll want to cover the hose with mulch to
cover an unattractive hose and to prevent water from evaporating before
reaching the ground. Drip irrigation
systems are also a great option for container gardens which tend to dry out
faster.
Compost! As we blogged about a couple of weeks ago, compost
is an integral part of your garden. Soil
with compost in it has improved drainage and breathes better than soil
without. Save on trash costs and start
composting! Learn how from our Compost
in a Weekend post.
