There are numerous reasons why should you start a garden. Spending time outdoors can relieve you from stress, boost your energy, give you much-needed physical activity. Plus, when you reap the fruits and vegetables from your garden there is immense satisfaction that nobody could explain. When you exactly know the plants you have planted are organic and all-natural this can contribute to leading a more healthy lifestyle, and help you save some money in the long run. If you are a total novice, here is a guide on how to start a backyard garden.
Determine the right spot for your garden
The very first step in creating your backyard garden is to choose the spot where to plant. Not all soil is adaptable for all plants, and you need to find a spot with enough shade and sun. Firstly, determine the orientation and make sure that you have at least 5 hours of direct sunlight. Certain veggies can grow in partial shade such as broccoli, but still, observe your backyard to pick the right sport. Ensure that you can access your garden easily and that all tools are nearby.
Decide what to grow
As a novice gardener, you need to decide what you want to grow before you focus on preparing the soil. Consider your climate and choose plants that thrive effectively in your climate zone. You could also go for classical, easy-to-grow plants like carrots, potatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, radishes, and other leafy greens. Know that most vegetables need a lot of time to grow and require meticulous care and maintenance, so if you choose to grow tomatoes bear in mind that you would need to consider pest control as well.
Get the necessary tools
There are a few gardening tools every beginner must own. As almost all plants require direct sunlight they would also need a lot of watering. Hence, you would certainly need to get a quality garden hose reel long enough to reach all the parts of your garden so you could water every plant adequately. Then, get blades, a hand trowel, a gardening hoe, a shovel, a spade, a rake, and a pair of gardening gloves. Also, it would be rather handy to have a pruner or garden secateurs to cut excess plants, stems, tree shrubs, and mend weeds.
Inspect the soil
Even though this is not the most crucial step, if you were to get your soil tested, you would exactly know whit what you are working on. All you need to do is get a soil testing kit and send it to a lab to find out the quality of your soil and determine what it contains. The experts would determine the content of soil and you would know how acidic or alkaline it is, whether it contains sand, clay, or some organic matter. By doing this, you would know how to treat your soil from potential fungus, and whether it’s contaminated or not so you could know is it safe to plant and which plants would grow more sprucely.
Know when to plant
It is utterly important to pay attention to planting times as different plants need to be planted at different times. It would be a good idea to keep a planting diary and note down when you need to plant each plant and keep track of the planting and harvesting times of each of your plants. Various greens, beans, squash, and similar are usually planted in summer, while cabbage, onions, kale, beets, need to be planted from early fall to winter month as they require longer to grow. When you know when to plant and pluck your plants, you could rest assured that the plants are matured enough to be consumed, which is your end goal.
Control the pests
You cannot avoid having pests, especially as they roam freely in the outdoors. However, you don’t want them completely ruining your new garden. Don’t buy hazardous pesticides at the first sight of their infestation, but try to apply some preventative measures to stop them from coming again. Plant herbs that repel pests such as onion or mint, or go for any other natural remedy for fighting pests. If you have inspected your soil, you won’t have much problem with negative pests. With the right soil, mulching, and natural compost, you will surely have a quality garden.
Starting a backyard garden is the most wondrous thing you could do as it will bring you an abundance of benefits. Make sure you follow these parameters, and you will have a healthy and productive garden as well.