Backyard Garden Gifts

By: Dionne Voughar

Do you recall childhood summer days spent running in the yard, with bare feet, feeling the earth in your toes, and the wind in your hair? Why not regain that feeling now that you are grown up? You can get reacquainted with the outdoors if you take the leap and get into gardening.

If you are just starting to get into gardening, it's best to start small. A tidy plant bed of 25 to 30 square feet is best, with room for about 30 plants. This will give you a chance to exercise your green thumb without facing a huge project that leaves you feeling overwhelmed. If, after your first season, you realize that you really love gardening, you can always increase your garden size and your plantings next year.

Choosing a good planting site is crucial. Where you live will be the biggest determining factor, but preferably you can plant in a spot that gets at least six hours of good light each day. Roots of large trees should be avoided, as they can steal your plants' nutrients and water. And try to keep your garden three feet or more away from any buildings or fences.

If you live in a hot climate, choose an area that will get some shade from the sun in the hot afternoon. You can grow a healthy garden with less or more direct sunlight, but depending on the amount you receive, you will have to tailor your plant selection to suit. Choose a place with good soil if you can, though soil quality can always be improved later. Avoid rocky soil, or areas with poor drainage or steep slopes.

After you've chosen the location, it's time for the real fun to begin: when you can dig in and really get into gardening. This is not a clean hobby, so prepare to get a little dirt under your nails. First, you're going to need to remove any rocks, debris, weeds and grass from your garden plot, and then use a spade or pitchfork to dig down about one foot deep. Mix in compost or minerals if required, and level the dirt. If your soil is too acidic, add lime; if it's too sandy, add peat moss. When you add in the proper fertilizer, your plants will thrive in either neutral or acidic soil.

The beds are ready and it's time to plant your garden. Deciding whether to start from seeds or plants is really a personal choice, although starting with plants can help you to determine the final growing pattern more clearly. Be sure to choose plants with healthy roots and green leaves and stems. Avoid "leggy" plants that have long stalks, or plants with yellowed leaves.

Take a bit of care in where you plant. For example, place larger plants at the rear, and smaller plants at the front of the bed. Something crucial is planting when the weather is correct. Be sure to plant after the risk of frost has ended, especially for tender plants. Read the seed package if you are using seeds, as they provide information about when to plant and how to properly position the seeds.

To thrive, your plants need regular attention and care from you. Watering is essential for their maintenance. With a small garden, such as on a balcony or a container garden on your patio, watering by hand with a watering can is easy enough. But a larger garden will need a hose to get enough water to the plants each week. Don't water every day, but when you do, make sure the roots are adequately soaked. Don't just sprinkle the surface lightly with a spray nozzle.

When the air is cool in the early morning, that is when you should water. The hot afternoon sun will evaporate much of the water, wasting this precious resource and costing you money. Evening water is to be avoided as well, because water can sit all night on plants, leading to mildew and several possible diseases. Depending how thirsty your particular plants are, and how hot your summer is, you will need to vary your watering schedule. In hot weather, you might need to let the roots drink three times a week.

Finally, use mulch or compost as natural protection and weed control for your garden. Adding just a few inches of organic mulch will keep the roots cool, greatly improve the fertility of your plants, and help the soil to retain moisture. Wood chips, grass clippings, manure, leaves, and pine needles can all be used as mulch.

Now that you are going to get into gardening, no doubt you will wonder what took you so long! You will discover the joy of harvesting your own vegetables and flowers, with the great taste and beauty they bring to your life. And you'll feel like a kid again, with the wind in your face and the soil in your hands.