If your interest in #gardening leans toward the edible rather than the decorative, many #vegetables and #fruits are easy to grow and yield plenty of good-for-you produce, Shifting Roots says. Lettuce, for example, sprouts fast from seed and keeps growing after you cut it. Similarly, kale and Swiss chard take off even in shady spots, providing healthy greens throughout the summer. Beans, potatoes and zucchini require very little attention, and root vegetables such as carrots, onions, beets and turnips mature underground without much attention to the above-ground foliage. Broccoli and cauliflower are less forgiving to the beginner though. #GardeningTips
Tag: flowers
Plant a Garden That’s Low-Maintenance
Use low-maintenance #plants to beautify your outdoor space without a lot of fuss or labor, says The Middle Sized Garden. Start with shrubs and ornamental grasses; most need to be trimmed only once a year. Avoid annuals, which tend to be high-maintenance. Pack plants closely to inhibit weeds; you can always thin them out if things get crowded. And limit the number of varieties you plant and group them together for big swaths of color and texture. Or you can “rewild” your #garden to make it virtually self-sufficient, trimming only rarely to allow self-seeded plants, flowers and shrubs to take over. #GardeningTips
Plant a Garden That Doesn’t Need Much Upkeep
#Garden upkeep can get overwhelming if you pick #plants that die quickly without human intervention, says Pioneer Woman Ree Drummond. Pick a garden style that suits you and your situation to keep things easy-care. If you live in a dry climate, try #planting a selection of drought-tolerant #plants such as cactus or yarrow. Bulbs, perennials and self-seeding flowers and plants will return year after year with little care, often thriving and spreading to fill space. Many wildflowers attract birds and butterflies and don’t require a lot of care. And if you don’t have much space, a container garden can keep things manageable while beautifying your home. #GardeningTips
Plant a Garden That Takes Care of Itself
#Gardens don’t have to be difficult to be beautiful. Simply prioritize plants that thrive in your climate, soil type and water distribution pattern to guarantee success, says Fine Gardening. If you can base gardens on native perennials and “allies” from similar climate zones, gardens can actually get easier to care for every year. As plants get established, you’ll do more thinning and splitting than mowing, trimming, edging, watering and feeding. Feed your soil, mulch to prevent weeds and maybe rethink how much space you dedicate to a grass lawn. You’ll soon have a #garden that practically takes care of itself! #GardeningTips
Get Your Garden off to a Great Start
Mid-May is when most areas put the threat of frost or freeze in the rearview mirror, meaning that it’s finally safe to #plant your favorite #flowers, herbs and #vegetables for summer enjoyment. But whether you’re a beginning grower or a longtime green thumb, it pays to do some prep to get those pots and plots off to a good start.
A container garden is (relatively) easy. Pick a good potting soil and the starter plants you wish to grow. Better Homes & Gardens suggests color-coordinating flowering plants and mixing up heights for a dramatic presentation, while paying attention to their individual demands for light and water. And if you like to cook, try growing your own herbs!
A vegetable garden can be a little trickier. It’s basically a small-scale farm, and farms can’t succeed just anywhere. Start by testing your soil, Almanac says, to make sure you have the right pH and nutrients for optimal plant growth. When you test, you can add fertilizers and other amendments to improve the soil’s texture and viability.
For example, manure enriches the soil with essential nutrients and organic matter, This Old House says; compost improves soil texture and fertility by adding a balanced mix of nutrients and enhances the soil’s water-holding capacity; and peat moss aids moisture retention and aeration while acidifying the soil.
Once your soil is ready, plant the vegetables and flowers you want, paying attention to which are compatible and have similar needs. For example, tomatoes and basil — good together on the plate — are great garden companions because basil deters the pests that target tomatoes, says House Beautiful.
If you want a one-and-done garden plot, try planting a bunch of perennials. Plants such as hostas, daylilies and coneflowers will thrive and spread with little attention, says Epic Gardening, lending splashes of color to your yard. Plant them in the right spots, and all you’ll have to do is thin them occasionally.
Whatever your #gardening goals, now’s the time to get started. Summer won’t last forever, so take an afternoon to plant, and you can enjoy your garden for months — or years — to come!