You decided to create a garden? It's a lot easier than you might think! First of all, decide what you want to plant, then prepare a suitable land for your plants. Learn about garden planning, start farming, and take proper care.
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Part 1 of 3: Planning the Garden
Step 1. Decide what crops you will grow
There are many types of gardens, and they all provide a different kind of pleasure. Think about why you want to create a garden when deciding which plants to plant. What kind of garden fits into your yard, fits your needs, and makes you very happy?
- Vegetable gardens are a practical option for people who want to eat what they grow. Growing your own vegetables saves you a lot of money, and vegetables grown at home are highly nutritious.
- If your main goal is to add beauty to your home, you can start making flower gardens. Choose flowers with a variety of shapes, colors, and textures to create something new. Plant green leafy plants among the flowers so that your garden is still beautiful after the summer has passed.
- If you don't have much space, you can still create a beautiful garden. You can plant herbs (herbs), which look beautiful and can be used at the same time.
- If you have a specific idea of what you want to grow, find out if it is suitable for growing in your area.
Step 2. Determine the garden area
Choose an area in your yard or land whose conditions are in accordance with the needs of the plants you want to plant. For example, most vegetable crops require sun exposure throughout the day. Meanwhile, flower plants, often need a shady place in order to grow well. If your yard has shady areas and areas that get a lot of sun, you can plant plants that require both types of conditions. In addition to sunlight, pay attention to the following:
- Choose a place with good water flow. If you notice puddles after it rains, it's likely that the soil is clay or rocky so the water isn't draining properly. This soil is not suitable for the roots of many types of plants. If the soil conditions are not ideal, you can always make a bed and fill it with soil that contains the nutrients the plants need, and has good drainage.
- Consider the aesthetics. Make a garden that is still within sight of your window so that the garden can be seen from inside the house. Instead, create a garden that is far from trees that drop a lot of leaves. Thus, it is easy to keep the garden neat. In addition, dark soil is usually more suitable for plants.
- It's easier to have a garden on flat ground, but hill gardening is also fun and can produce some very beautiful views. Choose an area that has few roots and is rocky that makes it difficult for plant growth. At first, you may still find rocks and roots, but these should be removed immediately.
Step 3. Buy supplies and things needed for gardening
You will need seeds, tubers, or seedlings to plant. These can be purchased from catalogs, online stores, or local gardening shops. You also need to know what garden tools and other supplies to buy based on the type of garden you are creating and its size. Simple gardening tools are suitable for small gardens, but if the garden is large, it will be more helpful to use a larger machine. Take note of the following things you need:
- Seeds, tubers, or seedlings. The garden shop has a wide selection, and you can ask the store clerk about varieties that are suitable for your area. Seeds are usually planted indoors for a month or two before the weather is warm enough and it's time to plant, while seedlings and tubers can be planted as soon as you buy them. Some bulbs take years before they finally emerge from the ground, so be patient.
- Fertilizer. Fertilizers provide additional nutrients to help your plants grow bigger, helping them grow stronger and healthier. Choose fertilizers from natural ingredients such as fertilizers made from dried blood (blood meal), fertilizers made from bones and slaughterhouse manure (bone meal), or compost. You can also use chemical fertilizers that are suitable for certain plants. Coffee grounds can also be used.
- Mulch and humus. Many plants need to be protected from cold and wind when first planted in the ground. Depending on what you're planting, choose mulch or a soil-covering material like straw, then add humus.
- Plow. This machine turns the soil so that the new roots can infiltrate. Buy or rent a plow if your garden is meters wide.
- Hoes, shovels and rakes. This essential gardening tool is used for digging holes, moving plants, and removing weeds.
- Ruler or tape measure. This tool helps you to measure the depth of the hole for planting plants in the soil at different depths.
- Hose. Can be used to fill in the slate. The hose can also be adjusted for wetting or watering plants.
- Fence. Whether you're growing flowers or vegetables, you need to fence off your garden so it doesn't disturb deer, rabbits, squirrels, or other animals.
Part 2 of 3: Gardening
Step 1. Find out the right time to plant crops
There are various vegetables, flowers, herbs, and other plants that must be planted in certain seasons. Some crops should be planted before the soil freezes for the last time of the year, some after temperatures warm past freezing. Some should be planted in the spring, some in the summer, and some should be planted in the fall. Pay attention to the times when you should plant the plants you choose.
Step 2. Prepare the soil
Mark the corners of the garden with stones or other markings to indicate the garden area. Remove rocks, roots, twigs, and large weeds that are within the boundaries you have created. Use a plow or hoe to loosen the soil. Dig the soil to a depth of about 30 centimeters, then mix it with the compost or fertilizer you will be using.
- Use fertilizer according to the dose for the plants you grow. Too much fertilizer will actually damage the plant.
- If you are cultivating grassy soil, remove any large clumps of grass to make it easier to work the soil underneath.
Step 3. Dig a hole and plant a seedling
Use a shovel to dig holes to the required depth, and make sure to leave enough space between the holes so that each plant has enough room to grow. Place the seedling in the ground and fill the hole with humus. Finally, apply a layer of mulch, if necessary.
Step 4. Water the garden
The new garden should be wet all the time. If the seedling dries up, the plant may die before it grows big. Water the garden with a hose in the morning and evening.
- Check the soil often. If it seems to be dry, water again.
- Do not water your garden at night, because if the water stagnates overnight, it can cause mold.
Part 3 of 3: Taking Care of the Garden
Step 1. Weed the garden
As your garden begins to develop, the weeds also grow. Remove them before the weeds thrive around your vegetable and flower plants. Diligently weed and remove weeds at least twice a week to prevent such conditions from occurring.
Step 2. Treat the plant as needed
Some plants do not require much care, while others require consistent care throughout their growth and beyond. Here are some factors you need to pay attention to:
- How often should the plant be watered? Plants usually shrink in the first few weeks.
- How often should plants be fertilized? Some plants need to be fertilized more than once during their growth period.
- Do plants need pruning? Some plants grow healthier if their dead stems, leaves, and flowers are trimmed.
Step 3. Keep plants away from animals and insects
You may need to do several things to protect your garden from deer, birds, squirrels, and plant-eating insects. If you see holes in your plants or other signs of a problem, find out what animal is causing it and take appropriate action.
- Creating a small fence is an effective way to keep out animals.
- It's okay if there are insects. The animal maintains the organic nature of your garden.
Tips
- Don't worry, pests can make holes in your plants, but don't throw them away. The animals are harmless.
- Be patient and don't eat vegetables before they are big.
- Do not use harsh chemicals on plants.
