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Many people enjoy planting a garden as a hobby. Working outdoors can be therapeutic and relaxing. Even confronting challenging weeds can make you feel good when you win. But few gardens will grow as expected unless you take the time to prepare the soil and planting sites.
As you prepare to plant your garden, pick a place with plenty of sunlight where the ground is rich with nutrients that will help your greenery grow. Then cultivate the soil. To do this you need to use a tiller. Make sure you go deep to get all the old roots up, and go slowly enough to catch all the larger chunks of earth.
Then you need to get rid of all the rocks, weeds, and extra grass. A good way to do this is to start at one end of the flower or vegetable beds and rake to the other end. Then pick out all the debris and stones. It’s a good idea to rake to the other end on a second pass, and remove missed debris. Continue to do this until the ground is clear of everything that might crowd or impede your seeds and plants. Check to see there are no hanging branches that are blocking the sunlight. If there are, you will have to cut them down.
Next, take a soil sample to make sure your earth is good for planting. Show it to a home and garden center associate and explain what you want to plant. The associate will tell you what the soil needs to support the plants you intend to grow. Don’t forget to water the garden a few times before planting so your soil is not dry, but a little damp to help things grow.
When selecting plants, check to see how long they need to grow. Some require four or five weeks, but others may need four months. Make sure you get them planted soon enough. The best time is about the middle of May. If they go into the soil too soon, the cold may kill them. If you expect a frost after the plants are in the ground, cover them with newspaper, blankets, or plastic for protection. Ask the greenhouse associate to recommend the best product for your plants.
Remember to ask about safe, non-toxic pest and insect repellents. Bugs, birds, and small animals love to get into gardens, and after a few days, you may have little produce or blossoms left. A homemade scarecrow may be helpful, too.
On your greenhouse plants will be a tag to tell you how far apart to place them in the earth, how deep to plant, and how long it will take until your vegetables will be ready to pick. Check the watering chart, as moisture needs will vary. Melons need a lot of water and corn, not so much. Just ask where you buy your plants if you don’t know.
Weed your garden every couple of weeks. Try not to let it go too long because weeds will stop your plants from producing, and your vegetables won’t get as big as they should. Water plants in the early morning or in the evening. If you water them in the hot sunlight, they can be damaged.
Following a few preparatory steps like these can help to ensure a successful planting season that will bring great results at harvest-time.
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