Beautiful gardens have a way of drawing us in. They are appealing and attractive and they add depth and character to the yard. Gardening is a way of life for many. For beginners, you’ll want to learn some of the best-kept secrets that keep gardens looking great with minimal effort.
You’re going to love learning these 5 secrets of the best gardens. It’s easier than you think and you’ll love your results. We’ve gone to the experts and asked them what their top 5 secrets of the best gardens are and now, we’re going to share them with you.
Secret 1
It’s never too soon to start planning your garden. You can plant seeds indoors even if it’s snowing outdoors. Start your seeds in paper cups or small containers indoors in a sunny window.
Mist them often and allow them to grow vigorously for six to eight weeks indoors before you transplant them out of doors. This will give your plants a great head start before they are out in the elements.
This will give your garden a nice jump start when the frost is over with. It will also help you to transplant only the most vigorous plants and allow plenty of space for them to grow.
Secret 2
It’s easy to over plant your first garden. The secret to a beautiful garden is to plant sparingly. Allow plenty of space between plants so that you can walk between them. This makes it easier to get to the weeds that crop up without damaging the plants.
Choose plants that are hearty and remove the rest of them. To do this plant your seed packet as directed. Then, when you get your young seedlings go in and remove all of the seedlings that aren’t growing vigorously. Don’t be stingy here. Only the best of the best should remain.
If you see a neighbor or a friend’s garden and it’s lovely, don’t be afraid to compliment them on the garden. You’d be amazed at how quick they are to share their secrets of their gardening with you.
Secret 3
Avoid over watering your garden. Your garden needs plenty of water but many of us over water the garden. Instead, allow for about 20 minutes of water in the morning and about 20 minutes in the afternoon or evening.
If you have puddles of standing water, it’s time to turn the water off. Plants that remain in standing water for long periods of time will suffer root rot and have weaker stems. If your leaves are wilting or turning brown chances are that you’re over-watering.
Don’t water if your soil is already plenty wet. Check the soil before you turn the water on. Some days you may not really need to water at all. Other days you may need to add in an extra few minutes of water due to the temperature outside.
Secret 4
Learn to compost. Every vegetable scrap that leaves your kitchen should be placed into a compost bin. Add this to your grass clippings, leaves and anything else (except for weeds and their seeds) that you have out in your garden and turn it every few days.
In a few short weeks, you’re going to have great compost for your garden. You’ll be amazed at how just adding a small hand full or two of compost to your plants can encourage them to grow beautifully.
Take the time to build up your soil and work your compost into it. Over the years this will enrich your soil and you’ll have a better garden each year.
Secret 5
Be patient. Start your garden small and take your time. If you want to fill in the open spaces find some lovely ground covers that will be both edible yet safe to walk on. This will help to discourage weeds and add to the beauty of your garden.
You can also add in planters that you can move around if you want to put more in a specific area. Your garden is an extension of your and your love for flowers and vegetables. Let your imagination go wild and embrace the beauty.
Create seating areas and focal points and allow your garden to become an oasis where you can relax and enjoy your afternoon or evening.
Bonus Secret
Our bonus secret is to add plenty of variety to your garden. Color and depth can create a texture. Consider adding in companion plantings such as marigolds with tomatoes. Add some hostas here and there for a few unique focal points. Don’t allow them to overtake the garden, though.
Focus on creating uniqueness to your garden. A few smaller plantings will go far. One large plant with a few smaller plants nearby will draw a lot of attention.
Peruse garden ideas online and in magazines. Drive through neighborhoods with lovely gardens and get ideas from what others have done.
Now that you know the 5 secrets of the best gardens and our bonus secret, you can design your own dream garden and create your own unique oasis. Soon, it will be you that everyone is asking for the secrets of the best gardens.