The Basics of Gardening
A garden in its most basic form consists of a bed of earth, which is regularly tilled and filled with compost to provide nutrients for plant growth. The bed is then topped off with a layer of soil, which protects the bed and allows it to drain slowly. The layers of soil and top soil combine to provide a protective environment for plant growth, but once planted, the gardener is largely in charge of how their garden grows. When growing season comes, the gardener either spreads seeds rapidly to get as much as possible done during the growing season or sows seedlings and begins to cultivate the garden immediately. Gardeners can also work on larger scale projects like vegetable gardens and landscape gardens, employing soil fertilizers and compost to build up the soil, increasing fertility and providing protection from weather. For larger garden projects, like vegetable gardens and landscapes, it is best to hire professional gardeners to ensure the best results.
Gardening is an art, so the purpose of this article is not to provide the scientific facts on how to start a garden. There are lots of articles about this online. However, we will concentrate on the basics to get you started. One important consideration is that you need to get going with the right type of fertilizer. You need to make sure that the one you choose is rich in nutrients for healthy plant growth.
Soil - It is advisable to go for a fertile soil, which is able to retain moisture and nutrients. Fertilizers are available, and some people even use natural compost to improve the soil in their gardens. If you plan to do gardening in outdoor space, then open loam and clay soils are ideal. Clay tends to be more expensive, but it is a good quality and it does not compact like some other types of materials, such as sand and gravel. Natural compost also tends to stay intact longer, offering better results over time.
Planting - One of the easiest things to remember when starting out a garden is that you should plan where you want to plant the main crop, and then plant those next to it. This is easier to understand if you know the difference between summer crops and winter crops. Summer crops are those that you are growing in the garden all year round, including your vegetables. These include cucumbers, melons, peppers, tomatoes, leafy vegetables, herbs and others. Winter crops include berries, peaches, pears and apples.
Choosing the right size - You can have gardens in many sizes, depending on the size of your outdoor space. Some of these gardens may only cover a few square meters, while others may go up to several acres. You should choose a design and layout plan that will suit your purposes well. For example, if you intend to use your garden to grow vegetables, then it would be wise to choose a design that makes the best use of space in order to ensure maximum productivity. When choosing plants for your garden, keep in mind that they will require space for growth and should be planted at the right intervals.
Effective gardening practices - Gardening is a great hobby or pastime, and the most essential thing about gardening is that you should take great care of the garden. The planning of the garden, maintaining the quality of soil, watering the plants as required, fertilizing and pest control are very important. You should have an effective plan that would work well in ensuring that you are successful in growing your plants. If your garden has overgrown, you need to determine which plants are suitable for being grown in large quantities. Organic gardening, meaning gardening that uses chemicals only, is becoming increasingly popular in developing eco-friendly gardens.
Gardening can be a fun activity, whether it is being done by an expert gardener or whether you start a garden from scratch. Gardening requires a lot of planning, especially in the initial stage. It is important to have patience when dealing with gardens as you will have to wait for a long time till the garden becomes established. A good gardener will always know when to water or when to provide fertilizers to their plants depending upon the type of garden.