The Basics To Setting Up Your Own Garden
People take up gardening for many reasons. You may have just moved into your first home with a garden, want something to fill up time in your retirement or just fancy a new hobby. Whatever the case gardening can be a rewarding activity but can also seem imposing when you first start out.
There are a few steps you can follow to get your garden set up for the first time. After this, you will find that most of the hard work is done.
Clear The Garden
If your garden has been neglected for some time, it may need to be cleared. At the least, it is likely you will have some weeds to remove. If your garden has been neglected for a long time then there may be more difficult vegetation problems such as brambles to remove.
Make A Plan
Decide what kind of plants you want. Do you just want to grow flowers and make the garden look nice or do you want some vegetables so that you can eat home-grown produce? You will also have to choose which specific plants you would like depending on what is suitable for the conditions of your garden. Some plants are also easier to grow than others or require less maintenance. Plants are not the only thing to think about. For example, would you like anything else like lawns, decking, a patio or simply a shed? Think about what will go into your garden and form a plan as to where everything will be put.
Gather Some Tools
Like most jobs, gardening requires the proper tools. Purchase the appropriate items which can be either new or second hand. As a minimum, the majority of gardens will need:
· A Spade
· A Watering Can
· A Rake
· A Lawnmower
· Shears or Hedge Trimmer (if you have hedges)
Put in Your Plants
When putting in plants the first thing you will need to do is create some beds. If there is grass on the ground at present you will need to turf it up. Mark out the outline of the bed with your spade and if it is fairly large, divide it into smaller sections. Then you can simply dig the spade into an edge of each section and prise the top layer of soil off complete with grass. You will then need to dig over the soil until it is nicely broken up. This can also be done with a spade, though a fork is preferable if you have one. At the same time, you may want to dig in some compost, manure or other soil improver to prepare the ground for plants. Afterwards, dig a very small hole (preferably with a trowel but you can use a spade or even your hands) and put in either plants or seeds.
Other Additions
If you want to add some lawn where there is not already grass, there are two ways to do this. You can clear the ground thoroughly and plant grass seed or for faster and easier results buy some turf and lay it down. Patios and decking will likely require a professional, although a DIY approach is possible for the practically-minded.
Maintain The Garden
After this, it is simply a case of maintaining what you have. Water plants regularly, keep the lawn clean and remove weeds when they appear. If you have hedges, trim them when they start to get untidy. You can now enjoy your garden.