Everyone wants a garden, and I’m here to tell you that with today’s technology and designs, you don’t need years of gardening experience or even a green thumb. However, before heading to the store, you should be ready with some basic knowledge on how to grow plants. Here are six tips for your new garden.
1) Choose Your Garden Style
There are three types of gardens:
- Natural Garden: grown in harmony with nature (e.g. cottage gardens)
- Traditional Garden: garden planned with styles from time immemorial (e.g. English country gardens)
- Modern Garden: designed by an artist with cutting edge design and technology (e.g. Le Takamura Gardens in Japan)
Mix and match these three styles to create your own version of a green oasis. However, if you find yourself in a traditional garden, be sure to check out the Designated Heritage Core Areas Act to see where you can grow heritage plants for free.
2) Pick The Right Plants
There are two types of plants you can grow in a home garden: annuals and perennials.
A few annuals can brighten a dull day, while some perennials will last year after year (e.g. antirrhinums and fall flowering bulbs). Perennials are usually harder to find at garden stores, but they’re worth looking out for. Most perennial plants take many years to mature, so be patient!
3) Live Off-Grid
Many modern homes have solar panels and wind turbines, but growing your own food is even more economical and healthy for the environment. Besides basic food staples, try out unusual fruits and vegetables for a new taste experience. There are hundreds of varieties to choose from, and if you’re lucky, you might even get exotic plants from relatives or neighbors.
4) Keep Your Plants Fed
Plants need food too, so be sure to use the fertilizer responsibly. Here’s a quick guide for how much fertilizer to use:
- Kitchen scraps can feed your plants (e.g. coffee grounds or eggshells)
- Organic liquid fertilizer is healthier than chemical ones (e.g. fish emulsion or seaweed extract)
- Synthetic fertilizers are fine as well (e.g. granular or liquid forms)
- Before you feed your plants, be sure to read the instructions carefully!
5) Plant And Prune Carefully
The right tools make all the difference, so here are some tools you should have when gardening:
- Pruners (e.g. bypass pruners, anvil pruners and hand shears)
- Watering can (e.g. manually operated hose or an automatic sprinkler system)
Note: these tools are only provided for your convenience and not part of the design service offered on this website. It is recommended that you purchase these items from a store near you or online at Amazon or eBay.
6) Avoid Pests
Whether it’s bugs or weeds, you’ll want to be prepared for the worst. Be sure to check out the Compost Garden Book if you want some new ideas on how to combat pests from your garden. There are also pest control products and sprays that can be purchased in garden stores, but you should always read the label carefully before using them.
Bottom line
I hope this article has given you some great tips on how to design your own garden. If you find this article useful, please share it with your friends so that they can have a hassle-free gardening experience too!