Starting a garden can be a daunting thought, but watching a garden grow and blossom can be one of the most rewarding things you can do!
Here are our top tips on creating a garden for the very first time:
- Consider what you want: Do you want a vegetable garden, herb patch, flora or just greenery?
- Pick the best spot in your garden: Once you have decided what you want to grow (see point 1), do some research about the conditions under which those plants will thrive. You can do some online researching or talk to the staff at your local garden centre to discuss this, and take note of the conditions in your garden. Which spots achieve full sun versus partial or full shade? There are plenty of options that will do just fine in any condition!
- Prepare your beds: Whether you are planting in pots or a garden bed, ensure you have loose, and good quality soil. You need to ensure the soil is not too dry, but not too moist either!
- Purchase your plants: After you’ve completed the above steps, you are now ready to choose what to purchase. You might have a strong idea of what you want, or you may take your criteria to a gardening shop to seek advice from the staff there in order to make your final selection.
- Get planting: When purchasing your plants, ensure you check the best time of year to plant what you’ve bought… whilst some tolerate cold well and can be planted in Winter, others prefer warmer temperatures and will have a better chance at growing if you plant in Spring (or even Summer).
- Water: Seedlings shouldn’t have the opportunity to dry out, and will probably need daily watering in the beginning until you start to see the first signs of growth. After that, the frequency of watering will depend on the plant’s requirements (which should have been communicated to you upon purchase) as well as your soil and the temperature / rainfall in your garden. To minimise evaporation, we recommend watering in the early morning or evening.
- Maintenance: Many pro gardeners recommend covering garden beds with mulch to keep moisture in the soil and prevent direct sunlight. Whether you choose to do this or not, be sure you keep up with your garden’s requirements: removing weeds, cutting off dead leaves and branches and regular watering. You may also choose to support tall plants with a stake or a tie on a lattice or wall.
Don’t forget to stop and smell the roses, tomatoes, cacti or whatever it is you are growing!
