Tips for starting your own garden:
When folks reach out to me about plant recommendations, it’s almost always accompanied by “and I have a black thumb”. Listen up – every gardener has killed plants. It’s part of the process. It sucks, but that’s all part of learning. Here are some quick and dirty tips to get you going on your first garden.
- Know the exposure – Look up. That ball in the sky travels East to West throughout the day. If you go out around 10am or 3pm you can get a pretty solid feel for the path of the sun. I like to go out in the afternoon. With the sun to your back, point your arms out to your sides. Your back is South (full, hot sun), your face is North (morning sun, cool afternoons), your left arm is West (full sun, all day exposure) and your right arm is East (morning sun). When we talk “full sun” we’re talking about how long and how intensely that spot gets sun exposure. Plant cover plays into this as well.
- Know your soil – Dig a hole. If your ground is rock solid and compact, you won’t have great drainage. If it’s super sandy, you have a quick drying soil. Plants need root space and access to moisture. You may want to order compost to mix thoroughly into your soil. Soil should be a rich brown color, with happy earth worms rolling around in there. (TIP: get a compost bin, and start composting your kitchen scraps!)
- Spacing is key – plants need room. Don’t plant them right on top of one another. Leave a little breathing room, and they’ll fill in over the seasons. Your plant tags will always give recommendations on spacing.
- Foundations – keep plants and shrubs a minimum of 12-24″ away from the siding of your house. Density contains moisture and moisture causes rot. Be sure to prune any creepers.
- Plant high to low – Use tall plants for the “back border”, descending in size as you move towards the front.
- Don’t be afraid to layer. Spring bulbs can be planted under or around your perennials, adding seasonal interest year round.
- Give it time – Grow for a season, evaluate, and then make moves. I move my plants constantly. I often buy them on impulse and then plant them when I realize I forgot about them. They hate that. As a result, I often end up with crowded or over shadowed plants. Don’t be afraid to dig them up and relocate them. Yes, they’re planted, but they’re not permanent.
- NEVER dig them up in the heat of the day. It’s best to move them towards evening, when the day is cooling off. Dig around the plant, don’t rip it out of the ground, and replant in a well-watered hole. Place the plant, back fill and gently pat the soil. Don’t over-pack it. Remember, those roots need to be able to wiggle around in the soil. Water it again, and continue so as it settles. Plants get shocked when you move them. They may need a week or so to recover. It’s never a bad idea to add a little compost or feed to the hole either.
- Don’t bury the crown – This is a mistake I see everywhere. When you buy your next plant, look at the shape where it leaves the soil. It’s mounded, or there’s a flare where it leaves the soil. This part needs to stay above the soil. Never bury it, and never cover the crown with soil. You’ll rot the plant to death.
- Cut them – the purpose of your garden is enjoyment. Pick those flowers. In fact, many plants love a little haircut, it encourages more growth. Rule of thumb – never take more than 30% of the plant. Remove dead/dying bits, and if the foliage is withering/yellow, remove and dispose of it to avoid pest problems.
- Give yourself some grace – Plants will die. Maybe it was a wrong spot. Maybe you overwatered it. Maybe the plant was just a lousy specimen. It’s ok, try again!
Questions? Reach out! We love plants just as much as we love houses! Check out part 4 in the series below where we give you suggestions on pruning!