I’ll be honest, before I started gardening, I didn’t know that not all soil is created equal. Planting in rich, moist soil is so much different than planting in rocky and grainy soil. So, before you plant, know your soil. You can do an intense soil test, if you want, to really see how viable that plot of land is.
Whether you’re a beginning gardener or an experienced green thumb, this mistake is a common way. Starting out too big can make you fizzle out really quickly. It may be tantalizing to see the magazine pictures full of lush and gorgeous gardens, but don’t get ahead of yourself. Honestly evaluate your own skill and time, and then plan accordingly.
That’s the next big thing: make sure to map out your garden. You don’t know how many people email me for gardening help, and when I ask about their garden plan, they say they didn’t have one. This is so important, people! Take some time in the fall or winter to sketch out what you want to grow and where you want to put it. This will seriously save you so much time and headache down the road.
I have a funny story to tell you about when I first got into gardening. I had decided I wanted to improve my green thumb, and so I went to the local nursery and bought a BUNCH of seeds. So many seeds. I went to go plant them in my garden aaaand…I ran out of space about three packets in. Yeah, I had way too many seeds for my garden. So buy your seed packets one at a time or at least don’t go out and buy dozens of them. Plan your purchases smartly.
Gardening is more than just going out to your backyard in the summer and planting some seeds. No, if you want a good garden, you need to prepare the soil much earlier than the summer months. As soon as you can go out in the spring (without breaking your tools in the ground or getting stuck in mud), start preparing the soil. Once you’ve planted your seeds, it’s too late. They’re stuck with the soil they have, even if it’s poor quality.
When it comes to your garden, remember location, location, location. You could have all the experience in the world, but if you have a poor garden location then your plants will not grow well. Look at what you plan on planting and make sure they get the sun or shade they need. Something else to consider is soil drainage, accessibility to animals, etc. You want to choose a location that will keep your plants strong and healthy.
Watering is probably one of the most important parts of gardening. And if you’re not committed to it, then your garden will most likely fail (or at least not reach its potential). First, always read the watering instructions for your plants. Next, stay consistent. If you water whenever you feel like it, you’re going to get subpar fruits and veggies.
Spacing is also really important for a strong and happy garden. There’s really no such thing as TOO much space to harm a plant, but you can definitely put them too close. Follow the instructions on the seed packet so that your plants can have all the space they need.
When I first started gardening, I figured pruning and trimming wasn’t necessary. To some extent, it isn’t (you can still get fruits and veggies without it), but your yield will be a LOT better if you prune and trim. This allows the plants to conserve energy, and it helps prevent rot and other diseases. Take the time to prune and trim your plants as necessary so that your garden can be healthy.
