Ensure your garden gets regular attention. Watering is important, especially in the summer.
Start with simple vegetables like peas and radishes. These plants are fast and productive.
Instead of starting with seeds, beginners may also purchase seedlings or bedding plants (sometimes called ready-made plants) at garden centers. Plant these in your garden beds according to the label instructions.
Know Your Soil
The soil that you plant is the foundation for garden beds a successful garden. A healthy, balanced soil feeds plants to allow them to thrive and produce abundant harvests. It's often neglected, however, in the frenzy to get plants in the ground. If you don't take care of your soil, it will show up in your flowers, vegetables and plants.
Understanding your soil is simple. Bring a shovel and paper sheet or garbage bag to your garden, remove the grass and the top couple of inches, then dig a shovel's length in each area where you plan to grow something. Place the dirt in your bag or sheet, and examine it to determine if it is sticky, sand-colored or brown? Does it smell bad or nice? Are there any clumps? It is a positive sign if you see earthworms burrows. They aerate and eat organic matter.
You can also test the soil's texture by digging up a handful and pressing it in your hands. If it stays in a ball after you release your grip, your soil is clay-based. On the other hand, sandy soils break up their shape easily. Another method to test your soil is mixing an assortment of dirt in a jar. Fill the jar about two-thirds full, and then add enough of your own garden soil to fill it the rest of the way. Shake the mixture, and then leave it to settle for a day or so. Clay-based soils rise on the surface, while peaty and sandy soils have a layer-like appearance, and loamy soils stay clean with fine particles at the bottom.
Knowing your soil type helps you figure out how to improve it, which is easy with a little organic matter being added regularly. All types of soil benefit from a wealth of compost or shredded leaves, grass clippings or other organic material that breaks down over time and adds nutrients to the soil. However, it is important to keep a balance between the amount of brown and green organic material you use because excessive amounts of the latter can result in a decrease in nitrogen in your soil that can also harm your garden.
Know Your Plants
Many gardeners who are new fail by trying to plant too many plants at once. It's best to start gardening small, so you get a feel for how long it takes to flower garden. It's also easier to keep up with smaller gardens flower than a large one.
It is crucial to recognize your plants. One method to accomplish this is by watching their branching patterns, which vary by species. This is how botanists can quickly identify a plant's species.
Another thing to pay attention to is the plant's growth habits. Certain varieties grow faster and are taller than others, while others produce more fruit or vegetables. Ask the staff at your local nursery for advice in case you aren't sure the type of plant you should buy. They will be able to provide you with information about your frost dates and your growing zone as well as the most suitable varieties of vegetables, flowers, and herbs to plant in your area.
Gardeners who are new to gardening should learn how to properly trim and weed. This is a great method to avoid overgrowth, maintain the soil's health and keep plants safe from pests. Doing this will provide you with an idea of the kind of care each plant needs and how often you need to tend to it.
You could also consider investing in drip irrigation systems or a garden hose to water your plants quickly in hot weather. It's impossible for design a garden newbie gardener to carry a watering jug to thirsty plants in the heat of.
Remember that plants require a soil that is at least moderately fertile and well-drained. If you feel that your soil isn't providing enough nutrients, add organic matter to it. Alternately, you could create your own liquid fertilizer with tea made of dandelion, yarrow or seaweed. Be careful not to over-do the fertilizer as too much can cause harm to your plants. If you see any mildew or fungus growing on the leaves of your plants spray the leaves with a sulfur-based fungicide keep it under control.
Know Your Pests
Pest control is also a key consideration for new gardeners. It is recommended to employ organic gardening methods as much as you can and learn to recognize early signs of an infestation. You may be able to prevent a full-blown infestation if you can detect the problem at the earliest stages.
You'll require a keen eye look for subtle indicators of pests. Be on the lookout for stippling of leaves edged with silvery bronze or buds that are discolored and other telltale signs. Also, you should examine the soil frequently. It should be moist, but not waterlogged. Too much moisture can trigger root rot and other plant diseases. If the soil is too dry, add more organic material or use a soaker-hose according to a schedule.
If you think the problem is severe enough to warrant chemical treatment, make certain to identify the insects. Some are harmless to plants, and they can provide beneficial functions like aerating soil or breaking down dead organic matter. Some are more invasive than others, such as cutworms and grubs, which can girdle seedlings or dig deep into the roots of an established plants.
One way to limit the number of harmful pests is to apply mulch. It can shield the soil from sunlight and regulate its temperature, as well as suppress weeds. It can even help prevent erosion. Wood chips, straw, and compost are the best kinds of mulch for a vegetable gardens garden.
It is also important to think about the location of your plot. It should be easily accessible to tend to the plants and easily reach water sources. It's difficult to imagine a newbie lugging water around in the summer heat. A good quality hose with a sprayer attachment or drip irrigation that is timed would be a better investment.
Beginners should also take into consideration the needs of others and pets visiting the garden. Some plants, such as Oleanders and lilies are poisonous to cats and dogs and roses should only be cut back after they've finished flowering.
Be aware of your sun's rays
As with soil and water in the garden, sunlight is also a vital element. Photosynthesis is one of the most important factors in helping plants produce their food. Sunlight reaches through leaves, captures chlorophyll molecules and combines them with carbon dioxide and water to make oxygen and sugars - which plants utilize for growth and to help them get through times of stress.
It is crucial to know the amount of sunlight your garden gets at different times during the day and throughout the year. A lot of plants require full sun, while others can thrive in partial or filtered sunlight or even shade. It is essential to understand your garden's requirements for sun exposure. This will help you select the best plants and prevent having to remove the entire crop that didn't produce.
Understanding your garden's sun requirements isn't as simple as going outside and observing where the shadows fall. The patterns of sunlight are dynamic and can change dramatically throughout the year. This is particularly true in New England, where the sun's height above the horizon changes by 50 degrees between summer and winter. This means that if you notice a certain pattern today, that same pattern is likely to be different in 5 - 10 to 15 years.
The best way to determine the patterns of sunlight in your garden is to draw an image of the sun. To do this, get some drawing paper and sketch the outline of your property. Then, beginning in the early morning just before sunrise, take a look around your garden to see what it is exposed to and take an outline of it. Repeat this throughout the day and stop around an hour prior to sunset. You will soon be able observe how your garden varies between full sun, partial sunlight and shade. You can then begin to plan your garden.
