Gardening Needs a Plan

Gardening Needs a Plan

So you want to plant a garden but you don’t know where to begin, gardening needs a plan and here are some of the things that you should consider.  What kind of space you have, whether you live in a condo or house.  How much you have to spend on your gardening efforts and what your overall goals are, do you want flowers and plants or vegetables.  Let’s look at these considerations and how you can work around them.

How Much Space You Have

If you live in an apartment or condo then your gardening efforts might be limited to window boxes or flower pots.  Don’t let that stop you, you can still get creative and make what little space you have look fabulous.  If you have your own home then you have a lot more freedom but be wary of home owners’ associations and the rules that they have in place.  You may be forced to have pristine green grass in the front yard but the backyard is yours to do with as you wish.

What Style of Gardening Do You Prefer?

Do you want a perfectly manicured landscape that looks like it was done by a professional or do you want something wilder?  Do you want flowers or do you want vegetables to grow in your garden?  Do you have the time and energy to do all of the work that goes with having a garden or do you want to hire a landscaper to come in a couple of times a month and do it for you.  Do you want green space or do you want to relax in your yard while smelling the flowers?  Here is a look at some of the different styles of gardens to give you some inspiration.

The Budget

This is an important consideration when it comes to gardening.  Some people grow vegetables because they can get organic vegetables from the garden without having to spend a fortune.  However landscape gardening can cost a pretty penny.  If you want to bring in landscapers to come in and plant and maintain the garden for you then be prepared to pay.  If you are doing the landscaping yourself you need to budget in not just the cost of plants and soils but garden tools as well.  If you want exotic plants or to add trees to your garden, that can also put a dent in your budget.

Before you move even a spec of dirt you should have a plan for what you want your garden to be.  Don’t worry about space you can put plants in even the smallest of spaces.

Growing Your Own Vegetables

Growing Your Own Vegetables

There is nothing like having fresh fruit or vegetables in the summer and fall, especially when they come from your own garden.  Growing your own vegetables is a great idea it saves you money and helps to feed you and your family.  Not only that but gardening has been proven to reduce stress and gets you out into the sun.  Let’s look at how easy it is to grow your own vegetables.

Getting Started

Before you start digging in the dirt you need to consider the size and location along with the soil composition.  Plants are going to need at least six hours of direct sunlight every day so don’t plant your garden in the shade.  You also need to have adequate drainage or you will end up with root rot and your plants won’t grow.  You need adequate space for your plants, you can start out the first year with a small plot and expand in later years as you learn.

Good soil is everything when it comes to gardening, without good soil you won’t grow anything.  You want soil that is fairly loose and not too hard to till.  If you have hard packed soil don’t worry you can still plant a garden you can either add compost to it or you can head to the local garden center and buy some soil.  If you are serious about growing your own vegetables then you should consider making your own compost.

Container Gardening

If you are an apartment dweller or don’t have a lot of space in your backyard then you can try your hand at container gardening.  You can put your plants on your balcony or even in your home if you have to.  Look for the spot where they will get the most light.  One of the biggest perks of container gardening is not having to deal with pests and wildlife trying to eat your vegetables.  Some plants that take to container gardening really well are tomatoes, spinach, beets, peppers and eggplant.  Just make sure that you have adequate drainage in your containers.

Fresh organic vegetables grown with your own two hands are amazing, there is nothing like feeding your family the freshest of produce.  Not only that but gardening is a way to connect with nature and reduce stress.  If you can get your kids interested in gardening it might even be easier to convince them to eat a vegetable if they had a part in growing it.