Growing your own food is a rewarding experience. Whether you’ve just moved into a new house, or are looking for a way to supplement your grocery budget, starting a backyard garden can be an excellent way to get fresh veggies and herbs.
1. Choose a sunny patch of land
Without adequate sunlight, you won’t be able to grow the types of plants you want. Look for a spot that gets at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. If there are large trees or other obstructions that prevent the sun from reaching your garden, choose another location. You also don’t want to position your garden near areas where there is a lot of wind (it can disrupt your plants’ growth), nor do you want it in an area prone to flooding (you’ll lose valuable soil nutrients).
2. Determine if you need to amend your soil
When it comes to the subject of soil, there are a number of important factors to consider. The quality of your garden’s soil will determine how healthy and productive your plants will be. Soil quality can be improved by adding organic matter, but it’s also important for you to understand if your soil needs improvement in the first place.
3. Plan your garden layout
Once you’ve chosen the amount of space for your garden, it’s time to plan how to use it. You want to make sure that your plants have enough room to grow without crowding each other out, but you also want them to be close enough together so they receive adequate sun and water. There are a few different ways that you can organize your crops: rows, blocks, grids or circles.
4. Create raised beds or install garden borders
If you want to build raised beds, consider using these materials:
· Old tires. You can cut the sidewalls of old tires and use them as a raised bed border, or even just place some into existing garden space to make it more functional.
· Pallets. If you have enough pallets around, they’re easy to stack together and create a sturdy raised bed.
· Old wood. If you have some old wood laying around that’s not being used for anything else, it can be repurposed into a sturdy set of garden borders for your backyard!
· Bricks are also an option for creating raised beds in your yard.
5. Install fencing to keep out wildlife, if necessary
If you live in an area where wildlife is a problem and/or your garden is large enough to attract them, it’s a good idea to install some sort of fencing around it. In addition to keeping deer, rabbits and other critters out of your yard (which will save you money on plants they eat), fencing can help prevent the spread of diseases like salmonella from animals walking through your garden with their dirty feet!
6. Care for your garden daily and fertilize as needed to keep it growing strong all season long!
· Water your garden regularly. Watering is crucial to keeping your plants healthy and growing. Make sure to water them in the morning or evening so that they can dry out throughout the day, which will prevent fungus from forming on their leaves. The hose reel helps you a lot, which allows you to maintain the garden with ease.
· Fertilize as needed to keep it growing strong all season long! The best time to fertilize is right after planting your seeds, but you can also add fertilizer during the growing season if you notice that growth is slowing down. Just be sure not to overdo it; too much fertilizer could harm the soil quality.
7. Select seeds or plants to start or grow your garden
Now that you’ve got your garden space picked out, it’s time to decide what you want to grow. Keep in mind that certain plants are better suited for certain climates and seasons. For example, if you live in an area with a short growing season, it’s unlikely your cucumber plants will last through the winter—unless they have been started indoors early enough (early spring) and brought outside once the weather warms up.
Some plants are easier than others to grow from seed or transplants: if possible, choose varieties such as tomatoes and peppers that produce “vigorous vines” rather than small bushes; these will produce more fruit per plant than other varieties do. Likewise, herbs like thyme can be started directly in your garden bed instead of having to buy them as seeds first because they grow quickly and easily when planted directly into soil after germinating indoors (typically on top of wet paper towels).
8. Plant at the right time of year
It’s important to know which plants are best suited for your environment, so make sure you check the requirements for each plant before purchasing them. For example, tomatoes are a tropical fruit and will only grow in warm climates during their growing season (usually March through October). If you live in a cold climate, you might want to consider starting your tomatoes inside or buying transplants from someone who does live in a warmer region.
By following these steps, you can create a garden that works for your unique needs and preferences. Take the time to enjoy the process of gardening—it’s more than just planting seeds in the ground. Gardening is a way to connect with nature and experience joy through growing things from seeds into something beautiful (and often edible).
If you need more information about landscaping please reach out to Jim’s Mowing Mornington Peninsula. To find out more about landscaping visit All Green Nursery
