As far as hobbies go, few are as fruitful and satisfying as gardening. It’s incredibly exciting (and delicious) to see your hard work pay off in the form of nutritious produce and gorgeous flowers or plants.
But before you can enjoy the hard-earned fruits of your labor, you must take some time to learn the basics of gardening. Plants need to be treated differently in order to grow properly, with many requiring specific types of soil and varying levels of sunshine and water.
In this post, we’ll cover some of the essential information you should know if you’re looking to start your own backyard garden. Equipped with the right knowledge, you’ll be growing a flourishing garden in no time!
Choose the right plants
Before you head to a nearby nursery or garden center, take some time to research the kinds of flowers or produce that you’d like to grow. Carefully consider the climate in your area, as well as the time of year when you’d like to start planting.
You should also think about how much effort you’re willing to put forth. If you have plenty of spare time to dedicate to gardening, you might want to invest in plants that require more love and attention. If you travel frequently or don’t want to commit tons of time, choose more hands-off options.
Get some inspiration from this list of easy-to-grow flowers, including snapdragons, pansies, and sunflowers.
Learn about different types of soil
It’s important to understand how soil contributes to the growth of your plants. If you’re digging a garden in the ground, it’s to your advantage to find out what type of soil you have at home and how it will nurture your flowers, fruits, or vegetables.
On the other hand, if you’ll be purchasing soil to use in pots or a garden bed, you’ll also need to do a bit of research. Take a look at this quick guide from The Home Depot to learn about the various types of soil and which types are best for your garden.
Whichever kind of soil you use, you’ll also need to allow for proper drainage when you water your plants. If there isn’t anywhere for the water to escape, you run the risk of drowning your seedlings.
Structure your space for proper sun exposure
While some plants need lots of sunshine to grow, others don’t need as much. Check the label on your plant or do some research to find out how much yours will need.
Before you plant, scope out different areas in your backyard and make a note of how much sun they receive. You can then situate your flowers, fruits, or veggies in the appropriate places depending on the amount of sunshine they require.
Stay patient
Even if you set up everything correctly in your garden, you still might not see your plants grow in the way you were hoping. This can be frustrating, but it’s just part of the nature of gardening. If you keep working at it, you will eventually see your hard work come into bloom.
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