If you are looking to implement gardening principles and enhance your outdoor or indoor space with colorful plants but don’t know where to begin then do not worry, you are at the right place! Gardening for the first time can be exhilarating and help you maintain your physical fitness. However, you may need to know the basics before you get your hands dirty.
The first important tip for any first-time gardener is to know the type of plants you may want to grow in your garden area. You can harvest vegetables or fruits, depending on the desires of your family members. There is nothing better than the fragrance of freshly picked fruits. Also, it gives you an opportunity to consume naturally produced vegetables unlike the ones in the market that may be produced inorganically. It is always beneficial to talk to your local gardeners to identify the type of plants that grow locally in your area. It helps you to communicate your ideas and socialize more with like-minded people. Plants that prefer cooler temperatures do not survive in hot climate conditions. Whereas plants like cacti are low-maintenance and exit easily in harsh weather conditions. Also, be mindful of the space taken by mature plants. Seedlings may take up only a portion of an area but fully grown plants like a giant pumpkin may invade the space of other plants thereby causing nutrient or water deficiency for them.
Choosing the perfect place for your garden is another crucial tip for all gardeners. Even within your garden, you may have areas with varying amounts of sunlight. You may want to figure out these areas and distinguish sunny spots from shaded areas. According to the hours of sunlight received by different areas, varying plants can be grown to fulfill their lighting needs. Flowering plants such as daylily may require long hours of sunshine. While some other plants like cacti may not need as much sun and thrive easily in shaded areas. You can also avoid areas with high winds for high-maintenance plants as they may require more supervision and care. Also, be considerate about the kids and pets in your neighborhood. If your neighbor’s pet tends to roam around in your garden, then think of building a fence for your garden to protect your plants from unnecessary visits.
Gardening may require a one-time initial investment in essential tools. It is mandatory for first-time gardeners as well as seasoned practitioners to have all the necessary tools in their toolkit. The basic equipment involves a garden hose to water your plants adequately and regularly. You may want to add a rake to your toolkit. It helps to scrape and level soil to make it more nutrient-rich. Any gardening toolkit is incomplete without a shovel. A shovel is used to move granular particles of soil from one place to another. It is a multi-purpose tool. It can also be utilized for making trenches and removing debris. Additionally, always have sharp pruners in your toolbox to cut the dead leaves and shrubs from your healthy and growing plants.
Author: David Sechovicz. I am a horticulture and gardening hobbyist. My immense love and affection for the beauty of nature excites me.
For a nature lover like me, maintaining the beauty of gardens and other natural avenues is my way to appreciate and give back to nature. Gardening, despite sounding like a simple recreation, is a lot more than that. Managing and maintaining the ever growing greenery requires a lot of chemical, biological and applied horticulture science. As a hobbyist gardener I have extensive gardening-related knowledge including indoor and outdoor plants and orchids.
