If you are interested in starting your own garden, you will need to do some research first. You will want to know which fruits, vegetables, flowers and herbs can be cultivated in the environment where you live. Certain types of soil are required by some plants but are only available in specific locations.
Properly lay your sod. Before laying the sod, the soil must be prepared. Remove any weeds, and break the soil up into a fine tilth. Compact the soil firmly but lightly, and make certain it is flat. Make sure the soil is moist all the way through. Be sure to stagger the rows of sod. The joints should be offset like bricks in a wall. Press the sod down firmly so that the surface is flat and even. If there are gaps remaining, fill them with a bit of soil. Once it is in place, the sod requires frequent watering for at least two weeks. This is usually the amount of time it takes for the sod to grow roots, making it ready to grow seamlessly into place.
A trick to help measure in the garden is to take one of the long handled garden tools like a shovel and mark on its handle using a tape measure. Using a permanent marker, mark out the feet and inches on its handle and when specific distance is required in planing, have a handy measuring device is close at hand.
Plant vegetables and flowers that are native to your local area. These plants will grow better with less work than plants that are not native. Also, native plants won’t require much extra watering, as they will generally adapt to the amount of rain typical to that area. This will also reduce your need for pesticides and fertilizers, since the plants will be able to handle the soil and pests in your area.
A great tip to having a fantastic garden is to be realistic. When shopping the glossy packages of seeds are very appealing, yet many of them only grow in specific climates. Be realistic to what grows in the area and do not plant items that do not grow well. It is so disappointing to plant a garden and have almost no fruits and vegetables come from it.
Avoid rose mildew. This fungus affects many types of roses, especially in wet weather, when days are warm and nights are cold. Small gray or white spots will appear on the plant, forming a felt-like down. Shoot tips are killed and buds fail to open. Don’t plant roses close together – they need good air circulation to avoid mildew. Spray any affected plants with fungicidal soap.
Make sure to keep your eye on your garden for pests. They can eat away your plants or foods and cause irreparable damage. If you do find them in your garden, it is important that you get rid of them as soon as possible before they reproduce and create more problems.
Use water efficiently as possible. One of the most precious resources in the world today is fresh water. It just cannot be wasted, so the use of mulch and soaker hoses are an efficient way to minimize the impact of the garden on the water supply. Consider having a rain barrel near the garden to capture and save rainwater for a minimal impact garden.
Follow the instructions and you are sure to succeed in your new hobby. Over-watering is a problem some people don’t consider, so it is important to research the needs of your particular plants. It is incredibly rewarding to cultivate a garden from nothing but soil, seeds and water. It’s a great way to reap what you sow.
