Starting your own garden can offer you and your family many benefits. Fresh fruits and vegetables hold more nutrients than their store bought counter parts. By planting your own garden you can control how much money you spend, the chemicals that are used, and what you grow and eat. Not to mention the benefits of exercise and being in the fresh air which offers numerous benefits both physically and mentally. A fresh home-grown garden can be a sense of pride for its owner. After all, it does take hard work and dedication.
Tips for creating a healthy, successful garden:
- Use compost for soil. Use clippings from the garden mixed with kitchen scraps to create a compost. One common rule of thought is to use one part organic matter to two or three parts garden soil.
- Gardens require at least six hours of sunlight a day. Make sure your garden is planted in a well lit area of your yard for the most efficient growth.
- Plant garden beds at least six feet apart. This encourages air flow between plants and keeps from overcrowding.
- Use a soaker hose to ensure that your plants are being watered sufficiently without wasting. It is better to water deeply with a soaker a couple of times a week rather than using a regular hose everyday. Everday hoses do not go as deep into the plant and can often waste water.
- By building your plant beds above the ground a bit can help save water from running off and wasting.
- If you are a beginner or don’t have the time for a big, elaborate garden, you can purchase the plants already blooming from your local garden center.
- Beginning gardeners may want to start with herbs, tomatoes, or peppers, as these are less maintenance. Beginners should choose a few plants to grow in a small area rather than taking on too much, too soon.
- Blueberries are also known to be an easy fruit to grow.
Remember that growing your own garden can offer you many benefits. Although it can be lots of work, it can be well worth it.