Tips on Gardening
In this economy people are staying home more, and that’s led to a renewed interest in gardening. Gardening is an excellent hobby for those who like being outside. It’s fun for everyone from children to seniors. Plus, with these tips on gardening, you can save money by growing vegetables that you like to eat. So with a nod to today’s economy, here are some tips on gardening for beginners on a budget.
Tip Number One: Don’t bite off more than you can chew. If you’re just getting started with a garden, start small. Decide what you want to grow (a salsa garden, a salad garden, favorite herbs), and what you’ll get the best use of. Think in terms of a manageable garden that you can grow over time. One of the best tips on gardening is to keep it to a minimum until experience proves you like gardening and can handle more.
Tip Number Two: Decide where you want to plant your garden. You’ll need a place in your yard that gets plenty of sun and easy access to water. It needs to be an area that does not hold water when it rains and that has good drainage. If you’re limited on space, you can consider growing vegetables in pots on a patio or deck. Herb gardens can do well in small spaces, as well.
Tip Number Three: Prepare the soil. No matter what you’re planting, it is bound to do better in good soil. Not all geographic areas have naturally good soil for growing. If you’re in Iowa, your soil may not need any added nutrients, but sandy soils in the southern U.S. can benefit from some good soil preparation. Visit a local gardening store or nursery and ask about the right mixture of soils for your area.
Tip Number Four: Research the types of vegetables you plan to grow to determine the optimal growing season. Growing seasons vary with your location. Gardens in Canada are planted at different times than a garden in Texas for obvious reasons. Some areas are great for growing vegetables from seed, others will do better with plants that have a good head start. Fall is a great time to plan your garden, prepare your garden plot, and read up on what you want to grow. That way you’ll be ready in the spring.
Tip Number Five: Find the tools you need at garage sales or flea markets, and check the sale bins at garden centers in the winter. With used tools, you’ll save money, and there’s nothing wrong with a trowel that has chipped paint on the handle. To have everything you need, get a spade or shovel, a hoe, a garden rake, a hand trowel, a hand rake, a spading fork, a wheelbarrow or two-wheeled cart, a watering can and a hose. If you feel you must have new tools, buy them over time and watch for sales.
Tip Number Six: Dress for success. When working in the garden, you’re dealing with the elements. The garden is no place for your good tennis shoes or your best t-shirt. Designate a pair of sturdy old shoes (slip ons work best) as your “garden shoes.” Consider wearing an apron with pockets to keep your clothes clean and your hand tools handy. Invest in a good pair of gardening gloves and don’t venture to your garden without them. A wide brimmed hat will protect you from the elements. Sun screen is another essential when working in the garden.
Tip Number Seven: Set aside a regular time for gardening. If Saturday mornings suit you, try to head out each Saturday to check on the status of your garden or to put in a few hours of prep time during the winter months. You will find that throughout the growing season your garden may need daily attention. Weeding, watering, and protection from bugs or other critters are really all that is needed to ensure that vegetables that are planted in good soil grow into something you’ll enjoy at your dinner table
Tips on Gardening would not be complete without a discussion of the concept of sharing.
Gardeners love to share – both tips and plants. If you’re getting started in the fall, check with your neighbors to see if they have any plantings that need to be thinned. You can start a nice flower bed in your yard using free donations from your neighbors.
Daffodils, Iris’ Cannas, Bachelor Buttons, and other colorful perennial flowers can be shared among friends, and someone else’s hardy lilies will probably be surprisingly easy to grow in your own yard. Put your donated plants into prepared soil in the fall and trim them back for early spring activity. The first blooms of spring are a signal that it’s time to begin planning your vegetable plots.
A final tip on gardening: don’t forget to share the fruits (and vegetables) of your labors. Neighbors and friends appreciate a fresh tomato or a sauce made from tomatoes, peppers and onions from your garden. Give your garden produce as gifts in a second hand basket tied with a pretty ribbon and adorned with flowers you’ve grown in your yard from your neighbor’s cast offs. It’s a great way to enjoy a hobby, share with friends, and save money too.
Thank you to Chelsey Gardner for this "Tips on Gardening" article.
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