“I’m just not cut out for gardening.” You think back to all the plants you tried growing, and none of them lasted beyond a week under your care. Your futile attempts may have even made you swear off gardening at some point.
Deep down, you still wish to succeed in growing your plants one day. If that’s you, don’t let your past failures stop you from trying again. Here’s a step-by-step guide to equip you to cultivate a beautiful and bountiful garden of your own, including choosing a location and installing a garden watering system:
Step 1: Find Your Plant Hardiness Zone
As you may have experienced, it is disheartening to invest your time, effort, and money into tending plants that don’t grow well or at all. You may have made the mistake of choosing plants that can’t grow in your area!
Besides choosing plants you like, consider if they can thrive where you live. Use the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map to find out if a certain plant can survive in your region’s winters, especially if you intend to grow perennial plants (i.e., plants that survive winter and typically regrow year after year). Some perennial plants are peonies, blueberries, and thyme.
Step 2: Find An Ideal Location in Your Home
Apart from the region you live in, the microclimate – your yard conditions – will affect how your plants grow. All plants require sufficient sunlight and suitable soil to thrive; your landscape should be able to support the growth of your plants, be they perennial or annual (i.e., plants that grow according to the seasons and die during winter).
How much sunlight is the allotted space in your yard exposed to in the day? Each plant requires an optimal amount of sunlight to grow (i.e., full sun, partial sun, partial shade, and full shade). Evaluate the amount and intensity of sunlight and shade in your yard and consider plants that can grow under the sun exposure your yard offers.
What kind of soil do you have in your yard? Soil provides plants with nutrients, water, and air to develop. The different soil types are sandy, clay, silt, loam, peat, and chalk. Each soil type has its benefits and limitations; you may need to mix additional compost and fertilizers to facilitate the growth of your plants.
Step 3: Refine Your Plant List and Start Planting
While you may want to plant every viable option, limit the number and type of plants for a start. Refine your existing list further by 1) setting a budget and 2) considering companion plants. Growing certain plants together helps increase yield, improve pollination, and manage pests. Some examples include the three sisters (corn, pole bean, squash), tomato and marigold, and carrot and rosemary.
Different combinations of vegetables, flowers, and herbs can help you create a productive and diverse garden. As you gain more experience and success in maintaining your garden, explore different variations to enjoy a fully-bloomed garden and seasonal foods throughout the year.
Step 4: Maintain Your Garden
Gardening doesn’t end after setting up your equipment and sowing the seeds; your plants cannot grow or survive long without regular watering and weeding. You need to commit to tending to your garden regularly for it to remain attractive, healthy, and bear fruit.
Consider installing a garden watering system to help you water your plants sufficiently and evenly. Watering your plants with a water hose, can, or sprinkler may lead to overwatering or underwatering. Some telltale signs of overwatering include soft stems, yellowing leaves, and leaves with brown spots and edges. Conversely, underwatering your plants can cause slow growth, and the leaves to droop and wilt.
Another aspect of maintenance is weeding. Commit to a weekly weeding schedule. While it may be a cumbersome process, removing weeds frequently helps ensure that your plants have sufficient moisture, space, and nutrients to thrive. Leaving the weeds to grow amongst your plants will instead stunt their growth, and kill them over time.
Involve your family in maintaining the garden where possible. You can teach your children responsibility by assigning age-appropriate tasks such as watering the plants and harvesting ripe fruits and vegetables. They are also likely to develop more interest and appreciation for their food. Tending to your garden with your family can also allow you to create new memories together in the comfort of your home.
Gardening may require a lot of planning and labor, but the benefits are numerous. You get to create a green gateway in your yard and liven up your home, especially if you spend more time at home these days. Spending time to take care of your garden regularly can help relieve stress and improve your mood. Growing your fruits and vegetables in your yard allows you to enjoy fresh and seasonal produce, saving you money and trips to the supermarket.