Steps To A Great Garden

Steps to a great garden

1. Find the Right Spot.
Gardening is all about finding the right location. A spot in your yard with full sun (at least 6 hours is best), well-drained soil, and one that's within easy reach of the house is perfect.

2. Improve with organic matter.
Grass clippings, leaves, compost, manure, hay and straw each fall should be applied. Laying down 1 to 2 inches of good compost before planting will keep weeds down and your garden happy, no matter what you're growing.

3. Create raised beds.
By mounding a patch of soil and flattening off the top, soil in raised beds warms up and dries out faster in spring and is easer to work with. This can be done each spring or make the beds permanent by framing them with rot-resistant wood or stone.

4. Cultivate known crops.
Food you and your family love to eat such as bush beans, lettuces and tomatoes are some of the easiest vegetables to grow. Don’t grow what you won’t eat!

5. Opt for proper Varieties.
Grow vegetables and fruits hardy to your zone. Check with local garden centres and fellow gardeners to find the best varieties to grow.

6. Purchase Transplants.
For the beginning gardener, purchase as many vegetables as possible as transplants from the garden centre. Seeds are necessary for some crops, such as beans and radishes, but transplants of most other vegetables like kale, lettuce are more likely to be a success.

7. Design Properly.
Design your garden with a mix of flowers, vegetables, fruits and herbs. A mixed planting is less likely to get completely destroyed by insect, animal or disease attacks.
Plant Correctly. Follow package directions and plant at the proper spacing and depth. Thin out seeded crops to the proper distance. Crowded plants become easily stressed and don't produce well.

8. Mulch.
Keep up with a constant soil moisture and keep weeds at bay by mulching. Examine plants for Insects. Inspect the garden every few days for any activity. Handpick damaging insects and place in a container of hot soapy water.

9. Relax and Enjoy!
Every gardener should take the time to sit and enjoy the fruits of their labour! A good book and and a comfortable chair are essential in the garden.