Today more and more people are discovering the joys of playing in the dirt—though grown-ups might prefer the term “gardening.” It’s a joy to see the garden wake up after winter. Spring is the busiest time in the garden, so try to get ahead before the weeds start growing. This is the time to sow seeds, indoors and outside, and to make weeding a priority.
Whether it is flowers or fruits, for some gardening is something recreational, for others it is a way of adding beauty to their homes, or a question of a better environment, or a professional achievement. Britain's weather is not always conducive for gardening, though through out the year, one could add bit by bit to their garden.
Gardening has also been shown to have significant health benefits. For starters, it encourages people to engage in other behaviors and activities that promote wellness. Gardening reduces stress and improves mental health. And it counts as moderate-intensity exercise, which can help people live longer lives.
According to the greatist.com, plants are like people—each type of plant has a unique “personality” and likes different things. It’s fun but can take some experimentation to learn what works best for a particular type of plant. That being said, virtually all plants require a few basic ingredients: sun, water, nutrients and the right soil- just the quantity differs.
Moreover gardens come in all shapes and sizes. Hence it's just a matter of figuring out what will work for you.
Common questions about gardening
The wonderful thing about gardening is that there are so many potential plants out there to grow.
Plants perform best when they have optimum temperatures for growth. To better understand your climate, get familiar with the plant hardiness zones. They’re based on the coldest winter temperatures, which help determine which plants are likely to do best in a particular location.
Here are some things to think about as you plan your garden:
- What types of plants are you most excited to grow?
- If you’re growing plants for food, what do you most like to cook and eat?
- What amount of space and light do you have available for gardening?
- How much time are you looking to spend gardening? It is a huge commitment, so you have to plan your time accordingly.
Essential Equipment
Beginner gardening requires a few tools. The larger the scale of your gardening, the more tools you’re likely to need.
Container gardens are super-simple to get going. For these, containers, potting soil, a watering can, and a small trowel (or even a sturdy kitchen spoon!) are the basic equipment that’s needed. For raised beds or beds in the ground, it’s helpful to have a trowel, watering can, shovel, hoe, and digging fork.
Larger gardens might benefit from the use of bigger equipment, such as a rototiller, for preparing the soil—but this is by no means necessary if you’d prefer to flex those muscles in the garden.
Preparing for Planting
* You have planned where your garden is, what plants to plant, how you will take care of them and the essential equipment.
* When you are purchasing plants, you will the opion of either buy seeds or small, starter plants that you can move to your garden. Many flowers and vegetables are actually simpler and easy to grow from seeds.
* If the growing season is particularly short, or if a larger plant is going to make that garden look great. To combine the best of both worlds, lots of seeds can be started inside in pots and later transplanted outdoors. The directions for planting will depend on what’s being planted; typically this information is provided on the seed packet or tag that comes with a given plant.
Weeds, pests and diseases
Once plants are in the garden, one of the biggest challenges is keeping weeds, pests, and diseases out of the garden. To a certain extent, weeds are inevitable, so that’s okay, as long as they don’t start choking out your plants. The best way of getting rid of the weed is to keep them from getting out of control. It’s easier to pull weeds out of the ground when soils are wetter. Covering the soil with mulch or straw can help reduce weeds while also maintaining the soil's moisture.
Garden pests and diseases challenge even the most experienced of gardeners. But in reality many of these issues can be resolved in advance. Many bugs and diseases that cause damage to plants are more likely to occur when plants are stressed, so ensuring that plants receive a good amount of sun, water, and nutrients will reduce other gardening problems. There are many organic options for preventing and controlling garden pests and diseases. Animal critters running amok in the garden can be hard to handle, but often fencing or creative deterrents (think: scarecrows) can solve the problem.
5 TOP budget garden decoration ideas
- Painted bench with cushions: A budget garden bench from a DIY store can be painted in any colour you like to inject some life into your garden. The white colour really stands out against the green plants, brightening up a shady spot, but you are free to colour it as you please. Printed benches with your children's favourite colour can also make them like nature more. You will get similar bench at B&Q
- Outdoor fairly lights with cup cake case shades: Find some pretty paper cupcake cases and use them as shades on inexpensive battery-operated outdoor LED fairy lights. Easy, effective and bargainous. For cupcake cases try Planet Bake.
- Garden corner with dual-purpose seating: This two-in-one garden seating also includes an overhead arbour. An arbour will make any garden feel special. Train plants around it for added character and choose colourful seat pads to create a comfy lounge area. Try Forest Garden.
- Garden with tree-hung hammock: Doesn't everybody dream of reclining in a hammock on a sunny day? If you're lucky enough to have strategically planted trees, a hammock can work out a lot cheaper (from around £60) than more traditional wooden or metal garden furniture. Add a picnic rug and plenty of cushions to create a sociable area for a spot of afternoon tea. Try Hammock Heaven.
- Window planter: Window boxes will brighten any window, but they're especially handy if you don't have much outdoor space. Try planting a mini kitchen garden full of salad and herbs - there are lots of mixed seed collections available in garden centres from around £2 for a summer's worth of seeds. Try Homebase.
Tips to get your garden ready for summer entertaining
As the temperatures goes up and the sun comes out, comes the paddling pool out of storage, barbecues become an essential part of a weekend, weekday dinners are enjoyed al fresco and families and friends across the nation take advantage of every last drop of sunshine… because let’s face it – who knows how long it will last?
* Feed your lawn on a regular basis with granular feed throughout the summer months.
* If moss is an issue, use a moss killer before raking it out.
* Is your garden looking a little unkempt? Why not edge your lawn so that you have a nice clean line between the grass and any flower beds?
* No lawn, just patio? Not a problem – you can add colour and shape with baskets and pots filled with summer bedding plants. The wetter months can leave your patio looking a little green around the gills. Give your patio a good scrub or use a pressure washer to blast away any dirt and moss a couple of days before your guests arrive.
* Your wooden garden furniture can also be adversely affected by the cold, wet weather. Algae can grow and although power washing your table and chairs is a short term solution, it may raise the wood’s grain and force any mould spores further into the wood. Therefore, use a specific wooden furniture cleaner with a wire brush and leave to dry before applying a protector and wood stain.
* Prepare ahead – plant climbers as they’re the ideal camouflage, covering unsightly walls and fence panels.
* Solar lights not only illuminate the surroundings but also add a little extra character to your party.
* Flickering tea lights in jam jars and brightly coloured paper lanterns are an affordable yet highly effective way of creating a party atmosphere on the day itself.
* Don’t forget the gazebo! This is the UK after all and no matter what the forecasts say, it’s always best to prepare for the worst. A pop-up gazebo is the perfect protection in case of a sudden downpour.
Engage your children
Children are natural gardeners. They're curious, like to learn by doing, and love to play in the dirt.
Gardening gives children a chance to learn an important life skill and a great way to teach environmental awareness by exploring the workings of nature.
Top 3 crops for children
* sunflower: A must for a child's garden. Plant just one or two, since they take a lot of room. Sunflowers will sprout in 1 week, become a small seedling in 2 weeks, and should be 2' tall in a month.
* lettuce/mescluns: A quick and reliable crop to give the child fast results, and also a good way to interest kids in salads. Lettuce likes part shade; keep soil moist especially during the first two weeks. The seeds will germinate in 7-10 days; growing season is 40-50 days.
* cherry tomatoes: These may be the most fun crop for a child, aside from strawberries. Plant in full sun and use seedlings rather than planting from seed. Put in a 2' stake alongside each seedling; they need to be tied loosely to stakes as they get taller. Add lots of compost. Water at ground level, trying to keep leaves dry. Growing season is 50-75 days. Cherry tomatoes can also be grown in containers.
Tips for gardening with children
* Give them their own garden beds.
*Reuse the sandbox. If your children have grown past their sandbox years, consider converting the old sandbox to a garden bed.
* Give them serious tools. Let them use your tools if need be; in this way you're acknowledging the importance of the work they're doing.
* Engage them through the entire process, from seed to table. Children learn better when they understand the context of their activity.
* Cheat a little. Depending on the age of the child, you may need to help out a little 'behind the scene'. Not every garden task is pleasant, and the child may not be ready at all times for all chores. They don't have to know about every little help you offer.
* The best time to engage children in gardening is when they're in the mood for this activity. If their attention wanes, or the garden tasks become boring, let them build a scarecrow.
* Show off their work. When giving 'garden tours' to friends, be sure to point out the children's beds. Take a photo of their harvest and send it to the grandparents. The attention given to their work is the best motivator for children to stay involved with a project.
References:
www.greatist.com
