Gardening is a rewarding pastime, but it requires a bit of planning. Different kinds of plants could change where you grow things in your yard or how much time you invest in your new hobby. Learn how to decide what plants to incorporate next in your garden before heading to your local plant nursery.
Beginner and expert gardeners will benefit from refreshing themselves on these crucial factors that influence how plants grow. They’ll make it easy for anyone with a green thumb and a dream to grow a successful garden.
Consider Your Garden’s Size
Overcrowding your plants makes it challenging for root systems to spread out. When they can’t reach the water and nutrients they need, your plants will wilt and die. Consider how much space your yard has for a garden plot before getting any plants.
If you want to eat home-grown tomatoes, they should grow at least 18 inches apart to spread out their roots and vines. However, something like the polka dot plant can grow next to each other because they’re much smaller.
Remember Your Location
Your location plays a significant role in your garden’s success. It determines what kind of soil you have and the nutrient content. It also determines the hardiness of your future plants. Before planting anything, check the USDA hardiness zones map to determine the average low temperatures where you live. Research which plants will thrive under the conditions relevant to where you live.
Determine Daily Shade
Some plants can’t grow under direct sunlight, while others can’t stand shade. Once you have a list of interesting plants, determine how much shade or sunlight they’ll need. Check different parts of your yard during the day to scout locations that match your potential plants’ needs. It could rule out some plants and add others to your list of potential candidates.
Decide on Your Purpose
It’s also smart to decide on your garden’s purpose. Do you want to grow something you’ll eat or have a decorative group of plants? It’s always good to determine what you want to achieve with each of your seasonal gardens. Your purpose narrows down which plants are right for your future garden and what skill set you’ll need to take care of them.
Check Your Schedule
How much time do you have in your daily schedule for your garden? Some plants will require more watering or weeding than others. Think about if you can tend to your garden multiple times each day or a few times each week. Gardeners who want to make their hobby last year-round should also plan for monthly maintenance so you know how to adapt your routine to your garden’s seasonal needs.
Reflect on Your Skills
Picking plants also comes down to your existing skillset. Fragile plants will require gardeners who can spot certain pests. You could also have to balance different maintenance schedules if your garden has a diverse group of plants.
While you weigh your options, refresh yourself on basic gardening skills and determine if you’re a beginner, an expert or somewhere in between. Afterward, you’ll know if you’re ready for the plants you have in mind. It could make all the difference between a garden that lasts and starting over just weeks after your garden begins.
Take Your Time
These tips will help you decide what plants to incorporate next in your garden, so take your time while you consider different options. When you reflect on your skills, determine a maintenance schedule and double-check which plants can grow in your location, you can look forward to a promising future garden.
Bio:
Jane is an environmental writer and the founder and editor-in-chief of Environment.co where she covers sustainability and eco-friendly living.