The days are getting warmer, the snow is melting and the air is filled with birdsong. Spring has finally arrived! Although the heated and sunlit days of summer may seem far away, spring is the perfect time to start planning your summer garden. Planting and maintaining a garden can be a lot of work, but it is ultimately rewarding. Imagine your shelves stocked with produce grown in your own backyard! It’s never too early to start planning, so follow these helpful tips and tricks.
Step one: Prepare your space.
If you’re starting a garden from scratch, the first step is to remove the grass from your garden by removing it by hand or layering it with newspaper, compost, and mulch. A key tip for a successful garden is to keep the soil hearty. This can be remedied by using compost and adding it to the soil.
Step Two: Choose your plants.
Then it was time to choose plants. Plan accordingly for the availability of sunlight and the amount of space your plants need to grow. A great way to achieve this is to reduce the size of your garden and draw it on a piece of paper. If you live in an area where unwanted creatures live, you may want to consider building a fence to protect your plants from destruction.
Delicate plants such as cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers and many others are susceptible to weather conditions. These plants do not like frosty and shade, so they should be planted in the warmest and sunniest place.
Traveling plants such as vines are hardier than tender plants, but they need much more space to grow. Make sure there is enough space in your garden to plant vines and grow produce. If you’re low on space in your garden but still want to add more, try vertical climbing plants. These plants need a structure to climb as they mature, but they take up very little horizontal space. The structures also provide excellent cover for plants that need more shade.
Step three: Provide ongoing care.
Once the plants start popping out of the ground, they will need plenty of water to thrive. Depending on how much rainfall your area receives in the summer, you may want to consider using an irrigation system. This can be as plain as watering with a garden hose and sprinkler, or running irrigation tubing through the rows of plants.
Watering your plants regularly helps them produce successful crops, but it also causes the growth of annoying weeds. By continuing to weed, you can be sure that your plants will not be intercepted and deprived of nutrients. Be sure to pull out the entire root along with the weed so it doesn’t have a chance to grow back. This can be done with a weeding tool when the soil is soggy.
Planning a summer garden can seem a bit overwhelming, but I hope these tips and tricks aid you. Don’t be afraid to start tiny and expand your garden as you gain experience. This rewarding process offers many valuable skills and will aid you get outside and connect with nature.
