You need to know some basics related to improving your garden for your family, your business, or simply yourself. Figure out what you need beforehand, so you don’t spend money on equipment that isn’t necessary, or impractical seeds for your climate.
Turn your tool handles into convenient rulers. You can convert any large handle tool, such as a hoe, shovel, or rake into a measuring tool. Just lay your tool down on the floor then lay a yardstick beside the handle. Then, with a permanent marker, you want to label distances. Now, the next time you do work in the garden, you’ll actually have a ruler at your fingertips.
Bulbs planted in the spring can flower all the way into summer. Bulbs are one of the easiest plants to grow and are hardy perennials that return each year. You can select bulbs that bloom at many different times, so with a little work, you could have flowers popping up all the way from the start of spring to the end of summer.
Coffee Grounds
If a test indicates that your soil is very alkaline, you can mix the dirt with used coffee grounds. Coffee grounds are an inexpensive way to increase the acid level in your soil. The plants will be healthier, leading to more delicious home-grown veggies.
Make sure you protect any tender deciduous shrubs. If you have them in pots, you need to guard them from cold weather that will damage or kill them. Tie together the tops. Once the canes are snugly together, put a sheet over the wigwam. This is more effective than putting plastic on the plant, it will let the air flow.
Novice gardeners should read the manuals on all gardening tools and chemicals prior to using them. Failing to heed this simple advice can mean skin irritation that you are going to remember, and not pleasantly at that. Wear protective gear, and use the products as directed.
You should purchase a wheelbarrow, as well as a kneeling stool to help you garden. It is important to protect your knees when you are kneeling in the garden, and a foam kneeling pad will help with that. Gardening also typically involves transporting bags of topsoil, fertilizer and other heavy items, so using a wheelbarrow to make these tasks easier is a sound investment for your garden, and your back.
Always dress appropriately when gardening in order to protect yourself from the harmful effects of the sun. This includes wide-brimmed hats, sunscreen, and sunglasses. Wearing sun protection is important to help ward off the unnecessary pain of sunburn, and it will help lessen your skin cancer risk, too.
Vegetables are softest during the warmest hours of each day, so picking them then, no matter how gently, runs the risk of damage. Also ensure that you use a tool to cut the vegetables off at the vine. If you just yank or twist the whole plant, it may become damaged.
When working in the garden, try to work as efficiently as possible. Don’t spend 30 minutes searching for a tool. Before you start work in the garden, make sure you have the necessary tools, and always remember to put them away when you are finished. One way to keep your tools handy is to use a belt especially designed to hold them. An alternative is to wear a garment with multiple pockets that are big enough to hold your more commonly used tools.
Are you ready to do some research, do some work outside, and be patient? The effort will pay off, and you will see a good reward for your hard work.
