Good location, good soil, and good seeds will get you results.
Sometimes the best thing we can do to achieve success in gardening is to uproot the old and bring in the new.
If you have a garden area that under performs year after year, or are new to gardening in high altitude with wind, harsh weather, and deer/rabbits, here are tips on what to do to start a garden from scratch:
Growing a garden that thrives and you'll be proud of takes planning and preparation, but most of all patience as you wait for harvest time.
Article contributor: Gardener Gigs
If you have a garden area that under performs year after year, or are new to gardening in high altitude with wind, harsh weather, and deer/rabbits, here are tips on what to do to start a garden from scratch:
- Choose a flat area that gets at least 6 hours of sunshine a day and has good access to water.
- Remove unwanted tree stumps and roots as these may prohibit plant growth. Soil that is loose and free of debris is a good start.
- Remove any insect infestations. There's no point starting out with insect problems. Eradicate unwanted insect populations and follow recommended disposal instructions (i.e. squash bugs, ants, leafminers, cutworms, beetle grubs, fungus gnats, Japanese beetles, and flies etc.). For info on how to handle soil pests, click here.
- Amend soil before putting in seedlings or seeds. This is the most important step in setting yourself up for a great growing environment. Add a 4-inch layer of quality compost and using a shovel, till in thoroughly. Rake smooth and remove rocks and clumps.
- Have a plan for watering. Ground irrigation typically works best because a lot of vegetables and flowers don't like overhead watering, but if you aren't able to set up a on-the-ground irrigation system, just plant to have adequate access to water and learn what kind of watering your chosen plants prefer. Once you know this, you can plant things with similar watering needs together so nothing gets too much or too little water. Using a soil moisture meter is useful in knowing when it's time to water once the garden is established, and helps to prevent overwatering, which kills more gardens that underwatering (plants are resilient!).
- If you have deer or rabbits, plan on putting a 6-8ft fence around your garden area. Chicken wire that goes around the bottom of the fence and under the ground by about a foot will keep out voles, moles, and rabbits.
- Timing is everything when it comes to knowing when to plant your garden and when to harvest. Start sowing seeds towards the end of May, and for seedlings, put in the ground with a plan for protection if needed late April to mid-May.
- You can plant cool season crops like cabbage, radish, broccoli, beets, onions, kale, spinach, and peas in April.
- Create a theme of colors or textures that complement each other to make your garden look appealing and cohesive.
- Manage and prevent weed growth by adding a layer of mulch to the soil and pathways along the growing beds and weeding by hand regularly to prevent them from choking out your wanted plants and from setting weed seeds.
Growing a garden that thrives and you'll be proud of takes planning and preparation, but most of all patience as you wait for harvest time.
Article contributor: Gardener Gigs