Top guide to gardening for home gardeners

1. Beginners guide to gardening Interested to learn how to start a garden but unsure of where to start? In this article, we’ll cover the crucial basics of gardening along with detailed information so that you can start gardening with confidence. Get ready to enjoy some of the best vegetables and fruits grew from the best quality seeds available in any of the popular garden nursery or garden supply centre in Brisbane. We are listing 10 basic steps to start a garden 1.Decide the plant that you want to grow 2.Select a location 3.Plan your garden bed 4.Invest in some basic gardening tools and equipment 5.Test your soil acidity 6.Prepare the soil for cultivation 7.Select the best seeds or transplants 8.Plant with love and care 9.Nurture your garden 10.Enjoy your harvest or green haven Decide what you want to grow in your garden

2. If you don’t eat a crop don’t invest your time and efforts into it. I personally love flowers so I have broken this rule and have planted a few in my home garden. If you love fruits, vegetables, or herbs, you can go for the ones your family loves the most. Make sure that your choice of plants is suitable and sensible for your area. Mark the estimated first and last frosting seasons. Visit any popular garden nursery/garden centre in Brisbane to determine which crop would go well with the surroundings and climate. Furthermore, you can gather more information on your climate zone about the growing conditions for garden plants. Crops like peas are grown well in cooler climates whereas vine crops like cucumbers are highly susceptible to mildew during high humidity. If you prefer eating fresh and not from the storage, start your garden with vegetables and fruits that can be eaten fresh. Select the best location for starting your home garden Most fruits and veggies require full sun with at least five to six hours of direct sunlight each day for fruiting. Green root veggies and herbs can be grown in partial shade/part sunny conditions. Gardens in southern regions can benefit from the late-afternoon shade whereas northern regions are more likely to need all the sun that they can get. However, you should consider access to the garden for regular watering and care for your plants with some of the best nursery supplies in Brisbane. Out of site (sight!!) often equals to out of mind can result in a neglected garden. You should try and avoid high wind areas as well as frost pockets Keep a watch for wild animals, pets, and children’s playing areas. We used to have frequent visits from our neighbour’s dog which would randomly dash through our garden, which was extremely hard on new seedlings. Now that the dog is gone, deer and wild bunnies are the regular visitors. Keeping this in mind you need to plan accordingly. Plan your garden bed After you determine which type of garden you want, you can then decide on the type and size of the garden bed. A raised bed looks attractive and makes it easier to work in the garden, however they dry out more quickly. In high dry areas, sunken beds can be useful to gather available moisture. If you are thinking about planting in blocks or beds of plants instead of single rows, beds should be 3 to 4 feet across and narrow enough for you to reach the center from either side. You can also consider beds to be roughly 10 feet long or less if you do not accidentally step into the bed and compact the ground.

3. Place the plants in rows or a grid pattern, within the garden beds. The objective is to minimize the walkways and maximize the growing space. The addition of fertilisers and soil amendments from the best garden nursery/garden supply centres in Brisbane can help save your time and money. Invest in some basic gardening tools The right tools from garden centres make working in your garden enjoyable and fun. Just like you don’t use a butter knife to chop vegetables, using dull or flimsy tools to work in your garden can be of no use at all. Some of the basic gardening equipment includes: 1.Garden Hoe 2.Scuffle hoe 3.Leaf rake 4.Dirt rake 5.D handle shovel or garden shovel 6.Hand tools Cheap plastic tools should be avoided at all cost. For the real deal on garden tools and equipment, you can visit your local or nearest garden centre or garden supply centre in Brisbane. Good tools can save your time and efforts. Try and keep them sharp and clean for the best results. Test your soil acidity

4. Before you go ahead and start building your garden beds or planting, you need to analyse your garden soil. Determining your soil’s pH levels can produce desirable and undesirable results. You need to consider certain questions before going ahead. 1. Do you have clay, sand,silt, rocks, or a mix of all the four components? 2.Is your soil acidic, basic or of neutral pH? 3.Is there a concern/risk of soil contamination from any nearby structures or other sources? 4.Does your soil have a good amount of necessary nutrients? Some of these characteristics of your soil can be determined by looking at the soil, while in other cases it may require home tests or professional lab tests. Most of the garden crops prefer soil with around pH 7 (neutral). Although some plants grow well in slightly acidic soil conditions or slightly alkaline levels. Balancing the nutrient levels are also crucial along with the presence of organic matter. Preparing the soil for cultivation If you are willing to start with sod, you would want to cut it up in chunks and repurpose it, until it in. Also, lay down wet newspaper or cardboard to smother it and build the bed on the top. Preparing your soil in the fall is best. However, you can also start it from the beginning of spring. Most plants and saplings prefer deep, well-drained, fertile soil that is rich in organic matter. Vegetables and fruit plants need good garden soil to produce the best results. Healthy soils can help grow healthy and disease and pest-resistant plants with better care and nutrition. Select the best seeds or transplants Garden nurseries and garden supply centres are great places to check before you seeds and saplings. To learn which plants grow best directly seeded in the garden and which plants are better as transplants such supply centres can be of great help. If you want to grow specific varieties you would need to grow your own transplants from seeding. Getting your own transplants is a superb way to save money. However, if you are not prepared for growing your own transplants, you can purchase them from popular garden nurseries like Capalaba nursery in Brisbane. Plant with love and care Most seed packets or containers come with instructions, so after you have done some research you can jump into the action. Even though you don’t have the experience you can learn once you go with the flow.

5. For better results, you can follow certain points for planting in your home garden. 1.You need to plant the seeds as deep as the diameter of the seed or as directed on the pack. Some seeds require light for germination. 2.The transplants can be planted at the same depth as they were in their pot. 3.Heat-loving plants should be planted after the risk of frost has passed. 4.The young plants are more prone to damage and risk than the older ones, so you need to put extra care and attention when they are planted outside Nurturing your garden Gardening requires time and patience. If you are unable to take out time from your schedule you can hit off better with extremely low maintenance plants. However, depending on the size of your plantations, your time requirement can vary, from a few minutes to full-time work. Keeping an eye for weeds is crucial and you need to nab them when small. Also, you need to water the plants before they are fully established. However, keep a check on how much you are pouring. Overwatering can be harmful if not dangerous. Regular check on pests and bugs can help your garden thrive well as per your desire. Reap what you have sown!! Once your crops have matured, make sure you harvest them in the right manner for the best quality. Green leafy veggies like lettuce can be clipped off and the rest can be regrown for the upcoming harvesting season. Beans and peas need to be picked every couple of days. Sweet corns are ready when their cobs are filled up. Tomatoes and capsicum can be picked when green but leaving them for a prolonged period can give them a sweet flavour. The flavour of the harvest is at its peak when the morning dew has cleared but before the settling of the afternoon heatwave. Consider taking a sample and decide which would be best for you. On a conclusive note Gardening is typically good for your and your surrounding environment. Not only you get to eat fresh but also it can combat depression, stress, and your sleep cycle. All said and done

6. the best part of gardening is that if things don’t go your way you always get time to improve the following year. For more details and help regarding gardening and garden supplies, you can visit any of the popular garden nurseries or garden centres in Brisbane. Capalaba Nursery is one of the best family-owned nurseries that have a wide range of plants and seeds that would delight you. Located in Brisbane this nursery is a must-visit for all plant lovers and garden enthusiasts. 75 Duncan Rd Sheldon, Capalaba QLD 4157 https://www.capalabanursery.com.au/ info@capalabanursery.com.au (07) 32060454