Spring is so close we can practically taste it and we are longing for warm sunny weekends that we spend outside, up to our elbows in dirt while we plant flowers and vegetables to enjoy in the coming months. Now we can’t hand out advice like we’ve been gardening for years and years, but we were beginners not too long ago ourselves, and since we made a lot of mistakes, we’ve learned a lot along the way too! So we’ve compiled a list of some of the best tips and tricks when it comes to beginner gardening, let’s get started!
(image via: istock)
Location, Location, Location
Most plants, vegetables, and flowers will require a lot of sun, so ideally your garden spot gets a lot of sun. Once you have an idea as to what plants or vegetables you want in your garden, research how much sun they need to be successful and plan accordingly.
Hold Tight to Your Water Source
This is one of those mistakes that’s really easy to make, and we like to think it’s from new garden excitement, but not only do you want to make sure your garden gets the appropriate amount of sunlight, but you’ll want to make sure it’s close to where or how you’ll be watering it! We promise, from experience, that it’s no fun to trek all over with buckets of water versus simply using the hose.
Only Grow Veggies You Love
We are guilty of getting a little trigger happy when it comes to buying seeds for our veggie gardens, so speaking from experience, we highly recommend only spending your time and money on vegetables that you and your family love.
When it Comes to Soil, Splurge
Okay, we don’t mean spending hundreds of dollars on soil, but we are saying that soil provides nutrients for your plants and vegetables, so make sure you’re nabbing a high-quality soil that will keep your garden healthy.
(image via: istock)
Not Much Space? No Problem!
If you’re low on space, consider a raised garden bed or container gardening. It’s that easy!
Mulch It Up
Adding mulch around each plant has some major benefits; not only does it give you a little more curb appeal, but giving your plants 2-3 inches (deep) of soil keeps the weeds at bay and keeps the ground moist so you won’t have to water your garden nearly as much.
Tool Time
Make sure you have all of the proper tools that you’ll need for your garden! This will save you from having to stop, go buy a tool, get back to the garden, and then repeating this process numerous times. You want to spend your time gardening, not time shopping at your local hardware store.