This step-by-step guide to starting a garden will set you up for success.
Starting a garden from scratch as a beginner can seem daunting.
One of the best ways to ease into gardening is to break your project down into manageable steps.
Credit: Rinne Allen
Consider What to Plant
Do you want to plant a vegetable garden?
Each one, or even a combination, makes a stunning garden but will have different maintenance requirements.
verify your new garden has easy access to a water source.
Credit: Bob Stefko
3. erase the Ground
Get rid of weeds and sod in the area you plan to plant.
Slice under the sod with a spade.
Cut the sod into sections to make it easier to remove.
Credit:Bob Stefko
Spread a3-inch layer of compost(or a combination of potting soil and topsoil) on the newspaper.
Water everything and wait.
It’ll take about four months for the compost and paper to decompose.
Credit: Bob Stefko
The solution is usually simple: Adding plenty of organic matter.
Add a 2- to 3-inch layer of compostto the soil when you dig or till a new bed.
Earthworms will do most of the work of mixing humus in with the subsoil.
Credit:Caitlin Atkinson
There are two methods: tilling with a mechanical equipment such as a rototiller or digging by hand.
The first one is a good method when you need tomix in large amounts of amendments.
However, it’s easy to overdo it, which will end up damaging soil structure.
Digging is more practical for preparing small beds.
Walking on prepared beds compacts the soil, so lay down plywood boards temporarily to evenly distribute your weight.
Bob Stefko
6.
Either way, the most important thing is to chooseplants adapted to your climate, soil, and sunlight.
Here are a feweasy-to-grow plantsfor beginners:
7.
Mid-spring and mid-autumn are good times to plant perennials.
Dig holes in your prepared bed based on tag instructions.
Remove plants from the container by pushing up from the bottom.
Pat soil into place around the roots, then soak the soil with water.
Water at the Right Time
Seedlings should never be allowed to dry out, so water daily.
Taper off as the plants get larger.
Transplants also need frequent watering (every other day or so) until their roots become established.
Sunny, windy conditions dry out soil more quickly than cool, cloudy weather.
Feel the soil 3-4 inches below the surface.
If it feels dry, it’s time to water.
Water slowly and deeply, so the water soaks in instead of running off.
To minimize evaporation, water in the early morning.
Just verify not to mulch over seeds you want to grow or they may not sprout either.
For a vegetable garden or bed of annuals, choose a mulch that decomposes in a few months.
For perennials, use a longer-lasting mulch such as bark chips.
Caitlin Atkinson
10.
Water the plants before they wilt.
Pull weeds before they go to seed.
Get rid of dead, dying, and diseased vegetation.
Support tall plants (such as tomatoes) with a trellis, stake, or a tepee.
Also,harvest vegetables as soon as they’re ready.
And remember to stop and smell the…well, whatever it is you’re growing.
Annuals and tomatoes should be planted when the weather warms up and after the last frost date.
Plant perennials in mid-spring or mid-autumn.
One of the easiest and most beginner-friendlygarden layoutsis planting in rows.
