Want To Try Gardening? Here’s What You Should Do First

Gardening is such an effective way to make your lawn look beautiful and well-kept. Whether you have invested in installing sod or have chosen to seed your lawn, you want it to look its absolute best. For many, the state of their garden is an indicator of the care that they are willing and able to give to the people and things that are close to them.

But gardening is not just about looking pretty. The end product of it all is a green environment that is also a good way to alleviate stress. Many studies have been done, and they say that a touch of nature really makes it a lot easier for people to combat the negative effects of stress. Aside from this, gardening is also a good way to exercise. The squatting motions work out the thigh and leg muscles, contributing to overall fitness.  It is likely prudent to use some of that physical effort to install a garden fence to keep the wildlife at bay once you have the precious garden in full bloom.

If all that we share is persuasive enough, and you are now sure that you want to try gardening yourself, there surely are a few things that you should take note of before you embark on your own gardening journey. We present here three of the most important ones.

Know what type of soil you have

It’s true that there are plants everywhere, but as to what specific plants will grow in a certain area is heavily dependent on the environmental conditions. One of the most important considerations is the soil type. To illustrate, if you see that the soil that you have in your lawn is a bit clay-like, maybe there is a need for you to add compost or fresh loam to enrich it. Clay makes rooting quite hard, so this type of soil is going to be challenging for most shrubs.  

Another thing that you should look into with soils is their pH level. Different plants thrive in soils of different pH levels. The beautifully colorful azaleas and hydrangeas are going to be very easy to grow in acidic soils. The ‘harbinger of spring’ forsythia and barberry are going to be some of the best plants for basic soils.

Create a garden plan

As with anything, planning will really help you when gardening. A well-detailed plan ensures that you don’t forget anything important. One of the most important considerations in your plan should be your irrigation source. Where do you get water from? Is there a need to install a special piping system for your lawn? Another thing that you shouldn’t overlook is the overall aesthetic of what you are trying to achieve. Ask any professional featured in WikiLawn’s DC lawn guide, and you will be told that it is important for you to already have the big picture in mind before you start working on your project.

Start with plants that are easy to take care of

Gardening and tending to plants are skills that you also need to master. If you are still in the process of learning them, it is wise to stick with the easy tasks first. Examples of plants that are easy to take care of are bougainvillea and forsythia, which are flowering shrubs that don’t really demand a lot of time or effort. You just need to water them periodically and they will thrive and add splashes of bright color to your garden. Examples of plants that are easy to take care of are bougainvillea and forsythia, which are flowering shrubs that don’t really demand a lot of time or effort. You just need to water them periodically and they will thrive and add splashes of bright color to your garden. Furthermore, choose maintenance free trees such as the Leyland Cypress. They are fast growing privacy trees and extremely versatile. Choosing plants that are easy to take care of is a great choice for beginners and makes your garden look effortlessly beautiful.