When it comes to backyard gardening, bigger does not necessarily mean better. Gardening is a great activity for everyone. You can do it on your own or you can do it with your family.
Gardening has many health benefits, which include better mood, strength building, and better sleep. It is also known to help calm you down when you are stressed or feeling anxious.
Starting your own backyard garden, no matter how small, can be one of the most rewarding things that you can do. Soon enough, you will be enjoying your colorful and fragrant oasis of flowers. If you have a vegetable garden, then you will soon enjoy your fresh, healthy, and delicious harvest with your family.
Before you can start with transforming your backyard into a garden, here are some things that you should consider.
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What do you want to plant?
Do you want a flower garden that will give you fragrant blooms? Or do you want a herb garden or a vegetable garden? You have to remember that each type of garden will have its own sets of requirements. You can have a combination of all three if you want. But whatever your choice is, remember to start small. This will give you a feel of your gardening choice while you are still learning everything that you need to know. Once you get the hang of things, you can slowly expand your inventory of plants.
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Where should you plant them?
Plants need a healthy dose of sunlight to be healthy. Before you start planting those seeds and seedlings, observe how the sun hits your yard. Observe which spots receive the most and least sunlight. Some plants prefer cool and shady areas, such as ferns and fuschia. You need to identify and group your plants depending on their light requirements for them to thrive and grow healthily.
Another thing that you should check is windbreaks. Strong winds can harm your plants, so keep them in areas where they have protection against the wind.
Your plants should also be always visible to you. This way, you can see if a plant needs your immediate care and attention.
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Prepare the soil.
Clear the ground where you will plan to plant and have your garden. Remove the sod and add a layer a compost to improve the health of the soil and make it more conducive for a garden.
Now, if you do not have a yard but instead have a patio as your only space, don’t fret. You can still start your garden in your urban home. You can invest in raised garden beds for your vegetable garden if the space permits.
Another option is to invest in durable planters and containers made by reputable injection molding manufacturers. Planters and containers are perfect for small spaces such as balconies or small rooftops. You have the flexibility to move your plants around depending on their needs.
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Pick the plants for your garden.
Once you have everything ready, it’s time to pick the right plants for your garden. Start with easy to grow plants, especially if this is your first time to start a home garden. For vegetables, you can begin with tomatoes, peppers, and lettuce. For perennials, you can start with daylilies, pansies, and Black-eyed Susans. For your herb garden, basil, chives, parsley, and thyme are among the easiest to grow.
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Plan your planting schedule.
Some plants prefer the warm temperatures of summer so avoid planting them during the cold months. You can plant your perennials in the middle of spring or towards autumn. You can plant those that can thrive in and tolerate the cold months during late winter or autumn.
Aside from the ideal planting time, you should also check the seed packets for the recommended spacing and depth. You can plant your seeds first in containers made for seedlings and grow them indoors before planting them outside. Place them by your windows, so they can receive the sunlight that they need.
If you do not want the hassle of dealing with seeds, you can buy young plants. Carefully remove the young plant from its container and transfer it to its new home. Pat the soil around its roots, then water it carefully.
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Do not forget to water your plants.
Seedlings and young plants need frequent watering, so you need to water them daily. As your plants grow older, you can depend your watering schedule on the soil that you have, the humidity in your area, and the amount of rainfall as well. When you water your plants, water slowly. The water should soak the soil instead of running off on the surface. It is also advisable to schedule your watering in the morning.
As with all projects, your garden will need your time and constant attention for it to be successful. It will need your nurturing love and patience, and soon, it will give you the fruits (or flowers) of your labor.
