Whether you’re an experienced gardener or are just getting started, there are many things you can do to help your garden grow well. Follow these 10 easy garden planting tips to start off on the right foot!
When starting a new garden, it’s important to choose a location that will get plenty of sun. Most vegetables, herbs and fruits need about six hours of direct sunlight per day to thrive.
Location
Location is one of the most important aspects of planning and growing a successful garden. It should not only be aesthetically pleasing, but it also needs to provide the optimal conditions for your plant of choice to grow and thrive. Getting your garden in the right place will make all the difference between a garden that produces a few measly veggies and a well-balanced harvest of everything from salad greens to blueberries.
The best location for your new garden will be in an area that receives sun for at least six hours a day, but you may need to move things around to accommodate your planting scheme. You can achieve this by building a shade fence or by moving some of your more tropical plants to the edge of your garden so that they are not exposed to intense afternoon sun. For the best results, you might want to consider a more permanent solution such as planting trees that will provide some much needed shade over the summer.
Soil
Soil is an important component of any garden. It determines whether the plants you choose will grow well.
The best garden soil is fertile, well drained and has good moisture retention. It also has adequate oxygen to support plant growth and root development.
It is home to a diverse variety of soil microbes that perform numerous functions, including the recycling of organic matter, fixing nitrogen into the soil, aerating the soil and performing other essential activities for growing plants.
Healthy soil should have about 25% water, which allows the pore space to drain quickly and allow for plants to access their nutrients. However, if the pore space becomes too full of water (as occurs in sandy or silty soils), it is difficult for the roots of plants and soil organisms to absorb water.
Water
Water plays an important role in plant life. It fills cells to maintain their structure and shape, and helps plants stay alive.
The amount of water that each garden needs is dependent on a number of factors, including its age and size. It’s also affected by the type of soil, the weather, and the time of year.
Young and newly planted vegetables need more water than mature plants, because they’re still establishing their root systems. The best way to encourage roots to penetrate deeply into the soil is by watering thoroughly and for a long time.
It’s also a good idea to use an automatic timer, or set up a watering system that senses when the sun rises and sets. This will make it much easier to stick to a watering schedule, and ensure your plants get the right amount of moisture each day.
Light
Light plays an important role in plants’ ability to grow, flower and produce fruit. This is because light triggers photosynthesis, the process where plants use carbon dioxide to turn sunlight into food for themselves and their guests.
To get the most out of your indoor gardening experience, you’ll need grow lights that closely imitate natural sunlight to trigger photosynthesis without generating too much heat. A full-spectrum grow light with both blue and red wavelengths will do the trick.
For best results, place the lights within two to five inches of your seedlings’ foliage and adjust them as your seedlings grow. Rotate the trays above and below the lighting source on a regular basis to ensure all your plants receive equal amounts of light.
Plants that receive too much light can have yellowing leaf burning, scorched and bleached papery spots on the leaves and even die, so make sure you’re checking them regularly and watering only when the soil is dry. The best garden planting tips can help you give your plants the proper lighting they need to be healthy and happy.