Are you someone who has been thinking about starting a garden this summer? Gardening is a great hobby that offers a variety of outstanding benefits. Starting your Summer garden is easier than you think! If you want to start a garden but you’re not sure where to begin, this post will go over everything you need to know on how to start your garden.
Start Your Summer Garden in 10 Easy Steps!
Believe it or not, the only thing that makes a huge difference between whether your garden barely produces anything or is overflowing with abundant food has nothing to do with sun or rain. It has to do with how organized you are! Garden planners are a great way to help you stay organized when managing your garden. Garden planners are also on SHOP.COM! Once you grab your garden planner you will be ready to move on to the next steps.
1. Decide What to Grow
Picking out what you want to grow is the very first step when you are learning how to start your garden. Since you’re a beginner, consider vegetables that your family loves to eat. You should also consider vegetables that yield the best results when planted in the Spring/Summer. The last thing you want is to plant something that is out of season.
2. Get the Right Gardening Tools
Once you know what you want to grow, you’ll find gardening is easier with the right tools. While you can quickly go overboard and buy every tool you see, make sure you buy tools that:
- You don’t already have in your garage/ shed
- Are necessities not wants
- Are within your price range
When you’re shopping for your garden tools, skip the cheap, plastic equipment and purchase quality tools. Not only will this make it easier to garden and reduce your risk of injury, but it will also save you money in the long run since you won’t have to constantly buy new tools. You can shop for garden tools on SHOP.COM. Simply click the categories tab in the top left-hand corner, select home, and then select garden. You will be directed to the Home and Garden landing page on SHOP.COM.
3. Pick the Right SpotsDifferent types of plants require different amounts of sunlight to survive. Some plants need full sun throughout the day to grow. Other plants require shade and won’t grow properly if they get too much sun. As you’re planning your garden, take a look at your yard and notice how much sun you get during certain times of the day. This will help you make sure you put the right plants in the right spots.
4. Choose Your Type of Garden
One of the great things about gardening is that it’s adaptable. You don’t need a large backyard to get started. You can grow a garden anywhere as long as you have access to sunlight. Container gardens are a great alternative to not having a yard. If you are in need of containers for your garden click this link to be directed to garden containers on SHOP.COM. If you live in an area that has rich and fertile soil, you might be able to plant directly in the ground. Raised garden beds are another great option to consider.
5. Test Your Soil
Most plants like neutral soil with a pH around 7. However, just like different types of plants prefer different amounts of sunlight, they also like certain types of soil. For example, potatoes prefer a pH around 4.8 to 5.5, and cabbage likes a pH between 6.5 and 6.8. If you’ll be planting your garden directly in the ground, it helps to know what type of soil you have. To do this, you can use a simple at-home soil test kit.
Once you know what type of soil you have, you’ll have a better idea of what you can successfully grow.
In addition to testing pH levels, you should also note the characteristics of your soil. Does it have a lot of clay, sand, or rocks? If so, you might have more success with a container garden.
6. Plant Your Seeds
After you’ve decided what type of garden you want and what type of plants you’re interested in growing, it’s time to plant your seeds. Most seed packets will tell you how deep to plant the seeds and whether it’s better to start indoors and transplant when temperatures are warmer or sow directly outside.
If you do need to start your seeds indoors, you don’t have to go out and spend extra money on seed starting pots. Instead, you can use toilet paper rolls to make your own seed starter pots.
7. Spread Some Mulch
Mulch helps keep moisture around the roots and prevents weeds from growing around your plants. Not only does this make sure your plants get the nutrients they need, but it also means you won’t have to water as much.
There are different types of mulch that range from shredded bark to rock. Since you’ll be growing vegetables to eat, I recommend you create your own compost that will naturally nourish your plants.
8. Water Properly
If you don’t get enough rain, you’ll have to water your garden to help your plants survive. Of course, giving your plants too much water is just as bad as not giving them enough water.
You never want your seedlings to dry out, so you’ll likely need to water them daily. Transplants need watered every other day so their roots can establish. Once your plants get larger, you don’t need to water as frequently.
Keep in mind that sunny and windy conditions will dry out soil more quickly than cool and cloudy conditions. It’s also better to water in the morning to minimize evaporation.
One good way to know if it’s time to water is to feel the soil 3 to 4 inches below the surface. If it’s dry, it’s time to water.
9. Tend to Your Garden
Watering isn’t the only thing you need to do to keep your gardening growing. You’ll also need to tend to your garden.
Watch out for weeds and pull them as soon as you see them. You should also trim off dead, dying, and diseased vegetation to keep your plants healthy. Tall plants like tomatoes and climbing plants like green beans will need a cage or trellis to help them grow.
If you spot any destructive insects on your plants, banish them right away with an organic solution. After all, if you’re going through the effort to learn how to garden so you can grow your own food, you don’t want to put toxins on what you eat.
10. Enjoy Your Reward
Once your garden starts to mature and produce, it’s time to enjoy all of your hard work. Keep in mind that many plants will stop producing if their fruit stays on too long, so you should harvest regularly.
We hope UFOs and their customers get the chance to start their summer gardens today!
