National Gardening Week is just around the corner. Typically celebrated during the first few weeks of June, depending on where you are in the country, gardening week can be any time and should be celebrated throughout the year!
But if you’re a gardening purist, then you can look towards the beginning of June to celebrate this family-friendly “holiday.” In order to get started, though, you’ll need to be prepared to get your garden going or, if you already have a garden, get it rehabilitated in time for the peak summer growing season. Here are some of our tips.
Location, Location, Location
If you don’t already have a garden started, then this may be the most important tip for getting one going and giving it the best opportunity to be productive and successful. Start by planning a location for your garden. You should consider first and foremost how much sunlight the locations on your property get.
Most summer plants require at least 6 hours of direct sunlight, so choose a location that gets ample sunlight. Dappled shade is fine in the afternoon especially in the south where even the hardiest plants struggle in the heat of the summer afternoons. Nevertheless, find the best location you can and start planning your garden from there.
Build a Garden You Can Maintain
Many beginner gardeners see large gardens in the countrysides or on farms and think that they must follow suit. If you have the room, a green thumb, and a nose for hard work, then this may very well work for you. However, if you live in an urban area or don’t have a lot of property, then consider scaling back.
Even a small garden can yield a bountiful crop of fruits, veggies, and greens, so you don’t necessarily have to go big. A small, 3-foot by 5-foot garden area is sufficient for most urban gardeners. Additionally, if you feel that you need more room to grow, then you can easily add an extra garden with little extra work.
Go Raised Bed
Raised bed gardens are easy to maintain, easy to work in, and require less water than most in-ground gardens. Raised beds can be purchased as kits from hardware stores but are often very simple to build yourself. Even a raised bed laid on top of your existing lawn or garden area makes working in the garden less labor-intensive and helps keep weeds at bay.
If you find that gardening tends to irritate your back, shoulders, or neck, then a raised bed may very well be the best solution for you. Purchase some lumber at your local construction yard, add some potting mix, and away you go to having a virtually maintenance-free garden that will last the summer and beyond.
Find a Garden-Perfect Home
Of course, all of this gardening fodder makes no difference if you don’t have a beautiful home and piece of property to put one on. If you’re looking for a home with a yard to put your first garden, then consider getting in touch with the folks at Tidewater Morgage Services, Inc. Tidewater has over 20 years of experience helping new home buyers and veteran buyers alike find the financing solution that works for them. With mortgage rates so low, take advantage of the summer buying season, and grow your way into a new home!
