8 steps to start your garden: A complete manual for beginners

Since I have you peeps motivated to start your own little bundle of joy, here is an 8 steps simple guide to starting your garden. I know- to start a garden can be challenging and that is why I have a prepped a simple step by step guide to ease you into gardening and make your experience unforgettable. So, without here we go:

1) Weigh your options and decide: There are a variety of things you can grow in your garden. It depends on whether you want to plant a vegetable garden or a herb garden? Or do you want a yard makeover with a colorful flower garden? Each garden has its own inherent benefits and unique maintenance requirement.

Bonus tip: It is better to start small until you get hang of gardening.

                                                      Photo by Carolyn V on Unsplash

                                                    Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash

                                               Photo by Camille Villanueva on Unsplash

2) Choose the right place: Gardening is all about the right plant at the right place:) So depending upon the type of garden you are planning, select the right spot for your green friends. E.g. almost all veggies and flowering plant requires an optimum of 7-8 hours of sunlight. While greens and herbs do well in shady areas.

Also Read:  9 Store bought veggies that you can magically regrow

3) Soil Analysis: Getting your soil tested before planting can save you from disastrous results. Your soil may be acidic or alkaline. It may be sandy or may be too wet. Newly constructed residential areas require a bit extra work as topsoil may have been eroded.

                                                   Photo by Gabriel Jimenez on Unsplash

4)Enrich your soil: The more fertile your soil is, the better yields you will get. So don't forget to add extra manure, compost dried leaves, grass clippings to your soil where it will eventually decompose into humus and increase its organic matter.

Bonus tip: You can add earthworms to your pile of compost. You can just sit back and let worms do all the work :)

5)Pick your plants: You can visit your nearest nursery and buy what wows you or you can place an order online after scanning through their catalog. (Things to remember when you purchase plants from the nursery). Or you can grow veggies from your vegetable itself. Surprised right? 
Here is the link to the vegetables that can regrow. 

                                              

6)Plant your picks: The next step is to plant seeds in your garden. But make sure you read and follow all the information mentioned on the packet.

You can give your selves a headstart by plant your seeds indoors in seed starters containers. You can transfer them to the soil when frost is no longer a threat. Here is the link to things you can use as seed starters.

                                                    Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash

7)Water it the right way: Water requirements of your plant depend on the soil's water holding capacity, humidity, climate, etc. Care should be taken that seedlings should not dry out. But overwatering should be avoided as it leads to root rot.

Bonus tip: Insert the finger and feel the soil 2-3 inches below the soil surface. If it is dry, then it's water time.

  

8) Protect your garden: Weeds, critters, rodents, animals can prove to be annoying. It can also affect your yields. You can use the mulch to keep weeds out and ensure that moisture is locked in soil. You can erect a fence to keep animals out.