What makes a house a home? There are many aspects of your house that make it feel more like a home and a beautiful garden is one of them. A house for sale on the market is an empty structure on a lot of land.
A home is a house that's been modified and made to suit your personal preferences and daily needs. It's something that you've made your own! Starting a garden from scratch might seem daunting, but once you've achieved the final product it'll all be worth it.
Are you ready to start your own garden but not sure where to begin? Below is our guide on everything you need to know about starting a garden from the ground up! Continue reading to learn more!
1. Choose What You'll Grow
One of the first things you need to decide is what you want to grow in your garden. You need to keep in mind the location of your home. Do you receive more shade than the sun?
Are there more warm days throughout the year than cold ones? What's the average temperature like for the year? Knowing the answers to these questions will help you decide what's best to grow in your garden.
If need be, speak with your local plant nursery shop or garden supplies store about the best plants to grow in your garden. If you want to grow veggies, be sure to choose veggies that you and your family love. You should only plant and grow what you'll eat and use.
2. Find the Ideal Location
Your next step is to find the ideal location for your garden. There are a few factors to keep in mind when selecting the best place for it. Do you want your garden in the front or back of your house?
Which location receives the most amount of sun? Which location is the safest from traffic, children, pets, and wildlife? Depending on what you're growing, your garden will most likely need at least 5 hours of direct sunlight each day.
There are some greens and herbs that can flourish in partial shade, so be sure to do your research on what you're growing and find an ideal location. You should also place your garden in an area where you see it on a daily basis.
If you place it in an area where you don't walk past it or see it each day, then you could easily forget about it as time goes on and your garden needs as much attention as possible. Lastly, make sure you place it in a location where children and animals won't run through it, causing damage.
3. Buy Your Gardening Tools
Now that it's all starting to come together, it's time to buy your gardening tools! When you have the right gardening tools, taking care of your garden is simple! As time passes by and you become more of a gardening expert, you'll find more tools and different tools that are unique and work best for you.
For now, you'll need the basics. Here's what to buy.
- hand tools
- gardening hoe
- scuffle hoe
- leaf rake
- dirt rake
- garden shovel
- watering system
One tip is to ensure you buy all metal tools. Plastic tools are less expensive but will make gardening more of a chore than when working with metal tools. For your watering system, you can either use a sprinkler system or purchase a hand-held watering can.
4. Plant Seeds in Raised Beds
When you're ready to plant your seeds, consider planing them in raised beds. You can create several raised beds throughout your one garden. Planting your seeds in this manner helps keep many pests and weeds out.
It makes the gardening process much easier for you and keeps things organized. You'll fill your raised beds with appropriate soil for what you're planting and then you can plant your seeds in their rows!
5. Provide Rich Soil for Plants
Most items that you grow in your garden will need a neutral pH. Other items, however, like potatoes, will need more acidic soil. Pay close attention to what it is you're growing and provide a rich soil that those plants will love.
You can purchase test kits to test your soil before planting your seeds. Another way to test is by soaking your soil with a hose and revisiting it the next day. The day after soaking, dig into the soil and grab a handful.
If water comes out of the soil when you squeeze, or if it's too dry, then you'll need to add organic matter to the soil.
6. Give Yourself and Plants Space
Once you have the perfect quality of soil, it's time to start growing! When planting your seeds, give yourself and the plants space. Follow the directions on the back of the seeds package to plant accordingly.
Most seeds will need to be spaced out for optimal growing conditions. You should also plant your different seeds in ways where it's easy for you to walk through your garden, get to each and every plant, and tend to it with ease.
7. Tend to Your Garden Regularly
Use a garden how to stir the top of the soil on a regular basis to stop weeds from growing. When growing vegetables, fertilizer them to produce a better result. You'll also want to be sure to keep all animals out of your garden.
A 6-foot deep fence will keep bunnies out while an 8-foot high fence will keep deer out. Remember to water the soil, not the plant itself to prevent fungus growth. If using a sprinkler system, have it set to water in the morning so the plants can dry by the evening.
Are You Starting a Garden from Scratch?
Have you found the perfect home and are now considering starting a garden from scratch? If so, follow this guide to help you throughout the process!
Haven't found that perfect home yet? Click here to see how we can help you find that perfect house that you can turn into the home you've been waiting for!