Photo credit: Bruce Mars
Whether you are new to gardening, are moving into a new home, or are just getting ready for your annual summer garden, there are steps you should take now, to make sure you are prepared to plant soon.
So, let’s take a look at a few things you need to make ready so you can enjoy some crispy summer salads, directly from your garden in a few short weeks.
1. Plan the layout of your garden.
You may have placed your garden in the same general area for years.
But harsh weather, heavy rain, snow, and repairs, could have an effect on the land. Check the ground location and make sure your garden does not need to be moved a bit. Have you installed any buildings since last season that changes the amount of sun your garden receives?
Plants like green beans and tomatoes need 6-hours sunlight a day. Do you need to change where they will be planted? Does the site provide good drainage for the plants?
Once you have determined where you would like to plant your crops, do a little research to ensure that they will grow well next to the plants you have selected for them.
Certain vegetable families grow well together because they enrich the soil or they help repel insects, while other veggies grow differently and could stunt the growth of a leafy plant.
Now you should have a valuable blueprint for building your garden. Keep this year after year. It will remind you of where each plant was so you can rotate them and keep your soil fertile.
Photo credit: Freestock.org
2. Check your water supply.
We all know we must have a reliable water source for our garden. But, after a long, cold winter are you sure there has been no damage to the pipes, faucets, or other mechanics of the system.
Now is the time to find out and make any repairs that are needed. If you have any wrapping on the pipes for winter, you need to unwrap and check for even minor cracks. Remember, a healthy garden will have moist soil, not saturated soil.
If your watering system has a problem which will allow it to over-water your garden, it will be just as unhealthy as it would be if it was under-watered.
3. Begin your compost.
If you plan on using compost (which is highly recommended) you need to get it started. Beginning in the spring, you can be ready to use the first compost by summer planting if you concentrate on getting the center of the pile warmed and keep it turned.
After that, you can use it every 3-weeks or so. Make this a priority if this is a new garden. It will help you get a good harvest and the results will be great soil for future gardens.
4. Contact your seen vender.
Please don’t go to a department store and buy seed. Speak to an industry leader who can answer your questions. Use a vendor who will help you learn about special varieties to make your garden special.
Use a pro who will guarantee that the plants will grow if something goes wrong.
Photo credit: Matt Montgomery
5. Get started with your herb garden.
You can plant your herb garden inside. Place them in your kitchen window. Put them in coffee cans with holes for drainage and tie a string around them and hang them on your backyard fence.
Dry them for seasoning for your summer cooking. Make your own cooking or serving sauce.
Chop dried Rosemary, Basil, and finely chopped Garlic into a bottle of Apple Vinegar, or White Wine Vinegar.
(If you attach a wooden salad serving fork and spoon, with a red and white checked cloth bow, this makes a great house-warming gift) The point is, your herbs will make all of your meals taste wonderful, have your herbs ready to make them perfect.
It is worth the effort!
There is a good bit of prep work that goes into planting a garden. The rewards go well beyond the table. You get exercise and sunshine. You feel the excitement of seeing your hard work pay off with wonderful crops.
You taste and share your bounty with others. After you have done it once, you will want to do it again and again. So, don’t want. Get started today. It all starts with the first step.
Author bio:
Wendy Dessler
Outreach manager
Wendy Dessler is a super-connector who helps businesses like My Seed Needs to find their audience online through outreach, partnerships, and networking.
She frequently writes about the latest advancements in digital marketing and focuses her efforts on developing customized blogger outreach plans depending on the industry and competition.
