The Dirt on Gardening

Tips to get your garden started

You’ve done all you can to plan your garden, but your fingers are just itching to get in there and touch some dirt. You know where you want to plant, all you have to know is how to get started with the actual planting. So get in there and get your fingernails dirty. Unless, of course, you wear gloves.

• You know what soil type you have and what soil type you need. It’s up to you to buy the right stuff so your soil is the right stuff. To make your soil less acidic, add lime. To make it more acidic, add peat moss or sulfur. Since a soil might not hold its pH after you’ve amended it, check it every year.

• Till the soil—shoot for at least six inches deep. Rototillers are great, or your trusty shovel and a heavy rake will also work if the soil isn’t too clay-like. Tilling wet soil only creates mud balls, which are fun for kids, but not so great for gardeners. Discard those nasty weeds as you go, because if you just till them under, they’ll eventually rear their ugly heads. Over and over and over again.

• Make necessary repairs to raised beds, fences or other borders. No borders? Well, then, you should probably think about it—we guarantee wild animals will get to enjoy your plants before you do.

• Decide what to plant! The fun part. Figure out what you like and then figure out what they like! Don’t forget to check out space requirements! Some plants take up more room than you might have.

• Figure out if you’re going to start any of your plants indoors before finding them a home in the dirt outside. This takes some extra time and some extra equipment. Then decide if you want to buy seeds, seedlings or a combination of both.

• Companion planting—a little advanced, but so, so, so worth it in the long run. Many plants have others that are beneficial to their growth, and vise-versa. Learn! Match up friends with friends. Just like real life. See?

• Put it on paper. For vegetable gardens or large flower beds, make a square-foot planting grid with all the information you need, such as where, when and how far apart to plant. Leave room to walk among the plants!

• Grid and measuring tape in hand, use twine or bamboo stakes to lay out the grid in the dirt. None of that willy-nilly planting! Keep your grid from year to year so you can rotate your veggie crops.

• When the time is right, get your seeds and/or seedlings in the ground. Add a little sun, a little water, some fertilizer and a lot of TLC and patience and then… wait for it… watch your garden grow!
 

You’re now armed for the gardening battle with all the knowledge you’ll need to conquer it. Ready. Set. Plant!