Proven Tips for Successful Summer Gardening
The warmer temperatures of summer mark the beginning of the gardening season. Getting outdoors and spending time in your garden is a wonderful way to get some exercise, and you'll be rewarded with a beautiful bed of flowers or a hearty harvest later on. In order to be successful, a garden needs some special care. The following tips will help you prepare your garden for the coming season.
Clean the garden
Cleaning the garden is a very important step in the gardening process that you don't want to skip. Remove any old mulch, clean out dead leaves, and remove any debris. Not only will this make the garden look good, but it’ll also make it easier for you to plant your seeds and care for them.
Inspect the area
Once the debris is out of the way, inspect your garden. This is the time to repair any hardscape items such as fences, trellises, or raised beds. Tackling these issues now will be easier than after you begin planting.
Add soil and fertilizer
Add a layer of high-quality garden soil to the area. Good soil will include fertilizer and compost. This is what you’ll be planting your seeds in. It provides your plants with the nutrients they need. If your soil doesn't already include fertilizer, it can be added separately before planting. Look for a fertilizer with phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium. This combination of minerals will help your plants grow bigger and faster.
Plant your seeds and flowers
Read the directions on your seed packets or the tag that comes with your flowers. This information will tell you how deep to plant them and how far apart they are. If your plants are too far apart, they’ll look sparse. When they’re too close together, they crowd each other out as they fight for sun, water, and nutrients.
When planting a seed, poke a small hole in the dirt at the required depth, put the seed in, and firmly cover it with dirt. For established flowers and plants, dig an appropriately sized hole, insert the plant, and then push the dirt back around it.
Apply mulch
When planting established plants and flowers, you must follow up with a nice layer of mulch. Mulch is made of either wood or compost. Adding a layer of this to your garden will help keep weeds at bay, hold in moisture, and protect the soil from direct sunlight. Many gardeners recommend using a 2-inch layer of mulch for the best results.
Once you follow these proven tips, you can watch your garden thrive. To learn more gardening tips, follow us on Facebook or Instagram. Check out Marketplace by TheHomeMag to find certified local professionals for all your home improvement needs.
