The key to a successful beginning in gardening is planting at the right time. Make sure and wait until the frosts are over before planting. If you are planting seeds, the package will usually tell you exactly when you can plant them to achieve maximum growth.
We are already well into the month of June so if you have not planted your garden yet, and you live in a climate with short seasons, you had better get moving quickly.
A great way to jump-start your garden is to use "bedding plants". These are plants that are already started in small pots and you can plant them directly into the ground. If you are going to use seeds, it will take a bit longer to see your plants grow. You can also start your seeds indoors and then transplant them to the garden once the frost is over. Put the smaller plants towards the front of the bed and larger ones in the back.
It's a good idea to read a bit about the plant on the back of the seed package. The package will provide a lot of helpful information about the plant, i.e., amount of water needed, if it is a shade plant or if it can tolerate a lot of sun, the height of the plant full grown, amount of space needed between seeds, etc.
The thing to remember while gardening is to start small. A small plant bed, about 25 or 30 feet square is perfect, is just enough room for about 30 plants. This will give you a chance to try out your green thumb and if you find that you enjoy your garden you can always expand and increase your plantings.
The next thing you will want to do is choose a site. Gardening must be done in an area that gets at least six hours of sunlight. Try and stay away from large trees that will take your plants water and nutrients, and at least three feet from any fences or buildings.
In hot climates it is a good idea to choose a place that will have shade from a part of the intense afternoon sun. It is possible to have a healthy garden with even ten to twelve hours of sunlight, but the type of plants must be adaptable.
While soil can always be improved, a site with good soil is a plus for most plants. Some plants do well in areas that have rocky soil, steep slopes, and unfertile soil. One beautiful flower that comes to mind when looking for plants that thrive in this type of soil is the "Morning Glory".
All plants should avoid areas where water stands. This will cause the roots to rot. Once this has happened there is nothing that can be done to save the plant. You can add gravel, or small rocks to the soil to help the water to run off. You can also add some good fertile dirt or compost to help absorb the water. If plants are in pots, place a tray underneath the pot and add a few small rocks or gravel so the plant is not actually sitting in the water. This method works well for adding humidity to the air for plants that you may be growing indoors.
Now comes the fun part: start digging. Gardening is not a clean hobby; you’re going to have to get some dirt under your nails. First remove the rocks, debris, and any grass and weeds then dig the spot up about one foot deep. Level up the dirt and add compost or minerals if the needed. If your soil is too acidic, add lime; if it is too sandy, add peat moss. Plants will thrive in neutral to acidic soil with a little added fertilizer.
Once you have started and gotten into gardening, making sure your plants receive enough water is essential to their growth. Hand watering works well if you only have a few plants. Other options include sprinklers or sprinkler hoses. Watering is more effective during the cooler parts of the day. The type of plant will depend on how much water is needed, but most require about an inch per week. During the hottest periods plants will need watering about three times per week. If you live in a dry climate you may need to water more often.
I always use "soaker hoses" so that I can turn them on and give the plants a good soak. Just lay the hoses around in the garden, making sure there are no kinks to prevent the water for flowing. Then all you have to do is hook up to the outside water spigot and turn them on - be sure to set a timer so you don't over water and end up with standing water. I leave the hoses there from spring until fall; it certainly is a lot easier than dragging hoses around all summer!
One of the most helpful things to add to a garden is mulch or compost. Just a few inches of organic mulch will improve fertility and help the soil hold moisture. Wood chips, grass clippings, leaves, manure, and pine needles are all things that can be used as mulch.
