You’ve been dreaming of starting a garden complete with beautifully blooming flowers of every color imaginable, but you have no idea where to start. Don’t worry; you’re not alone. Many homeowners dream of having a perfectly manicured garden but lack the green thumb to pull it off. Luckily, you can use a few tricks to make 2024 the year that you finally plant the garden of your dreams.
1. Consider location
Before you begin a new garden or add plants to an existing garden, you should be aware of how your garden’s location will affect the growth of new and existing plants. Many flowers and shrubs can handle full sun, which means they survive at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. But other, more delicate flowers and shrubs do not thrive in sunlight. Others prefer a mix of sunlight and shade.
Here are a few popular flowers and shrubs and their sun needs:
- Full sun: Marigolds, daylily, black-eyed Susan, cosmos, coneflower, hibiscus, butterfly bush, lilac, lantana
- Partial sun: Alyssum, begonia, fuchsia, impatiens, hydrangea, boxwood
- Shade: Sweet Alyssum, lobelia, coleus, primrose, rhododendron
Remember, if you are planting your garden as an addition to your home’s curb appeal, you’ll want to find a visible spot in front of your home. Adding a garden around your front porch will not only add beauty to the front of your home but also make your San Francisco home sell faster.
2. Feed the soil
Plants can only grow with the proper nutrients, so the soil you use for your garden must be saturated with nutrients. Prepare your soil by first understanding what kind of soil you have and what nutrients you may be lacking. You can purchase an at-home soil test online or at your local hardware store. Follow the recommendations on the test to determine what nutrients you should add to your soil. You should also ensure your soil has the right texture and does not have either clay or sand-like texture. If your dirt easily sticks together or puddles excessively, you probably have clay-like ground. Add organic compost, pine bark, or composted leaves to improve the texture. If your soil quickly falls apart or does not hold water, you have sandy soil, which can be adjusted by adding compost or manure.
3. Be water wise
While some plants may be beautiful, they can also require a ton of water in the warm weather; you’ll be watering your plants a couple of times a day. To avoid excess watering, you should choose plants that do not require much water or exist without much attention from a gardener. These plants include:
- Box shrubs
- Marigolds
- Daylilies
- Lavender
- Cornflower
- Hosta
- Ferns
4. Plan for pests
No garden is complete without the occasional pest invasion, but that doesn’t mean you must coat your plants with harmful pesticides. Flowers such as marigolds are natural deterrents to many pests, as are citronella, rosemary, lavender, and tea tree oil. Organic pesticides will also deter or kill pests without harming beneficial insects such as bees, butterflies, and caterpillars.
5. Make it spacious
Depending upon the type of plants you choose, the overall size of the garden may need to be larger than you would assume. Many popular plants, such as lavender, marigolds, daisies, and tulips, will double in size within a year or two. If you don’t plan for the additional growth, you will end up with plants overlapping one other and possibly causing issues with airflow. Always read up on your chosen plants to determine their growth rate and give them some extra space.
6.Top it off with mulch
Homes with gardens topped off with a thick layer of mulch stand out among other houses. Whether you choose black or brown mulch, the additional layer will add a polished look to your garden. Also, a layer of mulch will prevent weed growth and keep your plant roots from drying out on hot sunny days.
No matter what type of garden you plant, you need to have a well-thought-out plan. Consider your location, sunlight, and soil needs before purchasing plants. Remember, the best part is one that you can maintain and will add beauty to your home.