Gardening for Beginners: Eight Tips for the Growing Season
Each year, many gardeners anticipate the chance to improve and work on their current landscaping or gardening situation. Whether you want to add new plants, or if you are just looking to strengthen the growth and health of established plants, the growing season is the best time to start a garden and to grow it. Whether you're an experienced gardener or just starting out, the growing season is a great opportunity for making a livelier garden and encouraging healthier plant growth. In this post, we'll explore eight tips to help you make the most out of your spring gardening, so you can elevate your gardening and landscaping game.
1) Soil Preparation: Healthy and regularly watered soil is essential to a well-rounded garden. There are steps you can take regularly to improve the quality of your soil, so that it can be properly fertilized and watered. To begin, start by clearing away yard waste, like dried leaves, from your garden or yard. As an optional step, you can then loosen the soil by using a hand rake or a tiller to improve the aeration and drainage of the soil. Some areas in your yard may contain dry or hardened patches. Raking these dry patches and loosening up the soil can help improve soil aeration and improve water retention, because it makes it easier for the water to spread evenly and get absorbed. If you decide to loosen your soil, just be sure to mix in fresh fertilizer or new soil, to prevent the patch from hardening again later on. Nutrient low soil tends to be more prone to drying out, and so using fertilizer routinely is important to prevent this. See below for more on using fertilizer. Depending on the needs of the plants in your yard, you may also want to consider conducting a soil test to determine its acidity. Generally speaking, locally purchased plants for the outdoors tend to perform well in local conditions. Some plants can even display interesting properties with changes in garden soil acidity or pH. Plants, such as hydrangeas, may even change colors depending on the acidity of the soil they are planted in. More acidic soil, with a pH close to 5, can give hydrangeas a blue shade. Soil that is more alkaline will often result in pink hydrangea flowers.
2) Pruning and Trimming: At the start of each new growing season, inspect your shrubs, trees, and other garden plants for any dead, decaying, or damaged branches. Prune back these plants carefully to encourage healthy growth or to improve the plant's appearance. Dead branches can be easily identified by their lack of leaves or growth. Many plants and trees will naturally shed their damaged branches and parts over time, but regular pruning can speed up the process. It can encourage healthy plant growth, faster planter growth, and fuller blooms. Some plants, like tomato plants, often require regular pruning in order to grow properly and so be sure to regularly check on the needs of your plants. Pruning can come with many other benefits too. It can be a useful technique for helping shape your plants to a specific aesthetic or shape, or you can just do it to help give other plants more sunlight and room to grow.
3) New Additions to Your Garden: If you plan to introduce new plants to your garden, early in the growing season is a good time to do so. There is often a wide array of plants that can grow in a given yard or area. However, if you are looking for a safer option, it might be helpful to research what plants are native to your area, since these plants are often able to thrive well in local conditions. When adding new plants, be sure to dig properly sized holes that leave enough room for the plant's roots, and ensure you water them adequately early on to help them get established. You may also want to consider carefully breaking up the roots of the plant if they are overly dense. This can help the roots grow out properly and make it easier for the plant to transition to a new garden. Plants that are unable to have their roots established may dry out or wither early.
4) Using Mulch: Mulching is often a gardener's best friend as it can provide numerous benefits for your yard's health. Apply a layer of organic mulch such as red mulch or even homemade compost around your plants. There can be a variety of benefits associated with mulch, as it can help retain soil moisture, suppress weed growth, and help regulate soil temperature. Mulches can come in different colors and sizes, so you can choose the right one that fits your garden. The start of the growing season is generally a good time for mulching, but this can change depending on your plants and your area.
5) Figure Out a Watering Routine: Consistent watering is important for any yard and garden. Many gardeners typically fall into their own routine as they learn more about the watering needs of their plants and yards. Depending on any changes in your local climate, you may need to plan out a new watering routine for each season, to ensure healthy growth for your plants and to avoid letting them dry out. Periods of low rain and drought can easily dry out plants in your garden, so it is important to regularly check on your plants at the start of the season to see if they are getting enough water. Alternatively, periods of high rainfall will often require less attention and your plants may be more self-sufficient. To get started, look at the needs of each of your plants and determine how frequently they need to be watered. Many plants will come with tags that describe the amount of watering they need. If you do not have the plant tags any more, you can also look for different signs of underwatering. If the plant's stems, flowers, or leaves are fading or withering, this can indicate that the plant is not receiving enough water. In addition to underwatering, it is important to avoid overwatering as well, as it can cause plants to rot or even promote different fungal diseases to grow in your garden. A properly watered plant will generally look greener and livelier, and will have healthy growth each week. It may also be worth considering using sprinkler systems for more targeted watering and added convenience.
6) Using Fertilizer: Adding a well-balanced fertilizer into your soil during the early stages of each growing season is another important step. Oftentimes yards are unable to maintain the level of nutrients they need for plant growth without additional help. Fertilizers provide essential nutrients that support plant growth as well as healthy blooms or flowering. Even if your plants are already well-established, extra fertilizer may be necessary if you want to bolster their growth further. One approach for fertilizing is to fertilize once at the start of the season, and then a second time near the tail end of the season, but the amount of fertilizer needed may change depending on your plants. Regular fertilizing can help ensure that your plants maintain optimal growing conditions. If you are using concentrated fertilizer products, be sure to dilute them first before adding them to your soil.
7) Natural Pest Control and Prevention: Keep a watchful eye on your plants for signs of pests. Early detection of various pest problems can prevent infestations from growing. Oftentimes, frequent pruning and lawn mowing can do plenty for keeping pests like ticks away from your yard. Small insects are a great snack for local birds and shortened grass makes them easier for birds to spot. However, you may also want to consider using natural pest control methods such as adding pest repelling plants, like citronella, which naturally repel pests like mosquitoes. Another potential option for reducing pest levels is tree removal. Some older trees may act as homes for local pests, and old or rotting trees can sometimes be grounds for many unwanted pests or bugs, and removing them may significantly reduce the amount of pests in your yard. See this post for more on natural pest control.
8) Garden Tool Maintenance: Before diving into the growing season, it might be worth taking the time to inspect and clean your gardening tools. Dirt and rust can often accumulate over time, and cleaning your tools regularly can extend their lifetime usage. Many tools can be protected by storing them in a safe and dry location. Properly cleaning your tools will ensure that your arsenal of garden tools stays in its best shape. In addition to cleaning off tools, some tools may need additional oiling or sharpening. By properly maintaining and caring for your gardening tools, you can encourage a smoother landscaping experience each new season, and it can prevent needing to replace your tools too often.
While preparing for the spring season may not be the most interesting part of gardening, a well-prepared plan at the start of the growing season sets the stage for future improvements. Check out our unique selection of gardening tools and products to help get you started, or explore our blog further for more inspiration and free gardening DIY projects.
