{"id":17529,"date":"2021-04-19T11:27:35","date_gmt":"2021-04-19T15:27:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cubesmart.com\/blog\/?p=17529"},"modified":"2023-11-02T10:37:37","modified_gmt":"2023-11-02T14:37:37","slug":"gardening-101-how-to-start-a-garden","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staging.cubesmart.dev\/blog\/your-home\/diy-projects\/gardening-101-how-to-start-a-garden\/","title":{"rendered":"Gardening 101: How to Start a Garden"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"hand<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

You like flowers. You eat veggies. And you may have mused on the topic of how to start a garden. Springtime, especially, can inspire visions of a vegetable garden lush with the makings of a fresh salad or your new favorite side dish. Gardening is the ultimate DIY project. With the help of a little sunlight, water, soil, and time you can not only be growing plants but feeding yourself! Grab a few essential tools<\/a> and check out our recommendations for creating your very own starter garden. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Location,\nLocation, Location <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

What is a garden if not a slice of real\nestate? Whether you are planning a vertical garden on your balcony, an indoor\ngarden next to your kitchen sink, or a large plot in your backyard, location\nmatters. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

First, review the possibilities in your\ncurrent space. If you don\u2019t have a yard, identify the places in your life where\nyou do have available real estate. Your front stoop? Your windowsill? No matter\nthe surface area, there are garden solutions to match. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Container gardening offers an array of options, not only for location but for well, containers. Think a pepper plant in an upcycled paint can; mint or basil in an old teapot, or succulents in the drawers of that old dresser you\u2019ve had in storage. Before shelling out money on new containers, scour your closets and cupboards for creative container solutions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"teapot<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>Vertical or hanging gardens are also an option. Planting upwards instead of outwards offers a whole new world for growing plants. You can buy vertical gardening systems<\/a> or make your own out of materials like landscape fabric<\/a> or hex wire and t<\/a>e<\/a>rracotta pots<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"vertical<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>If you are embarking on your gardening 101 journey via the old standby of a\ntraditional yard, location still matters. Identify a space out of the way from\nthe rambunctious activities of kids or pets. Start with a small space to keep\nthings manageable. Last but not least, in all your location considerations,\nsunlight matters. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Follow\nthe Sun <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A vegetable garden in particular usually requires a good deal of sunlight and the same can be said for many flowering plants as well. A garden plot in constant shade may not yield your desired results so be sure to keep this essential natural resource in mind. Some of the fastest-growing vegetables<\/a>, for example, require 6-8 hours of sunlight per day. Note the areas of your yard or the windows within your house with plenty of sunlight. If you go the container route, consider adding wheels to the bottom of some of your larger containers before you plant. This will allow you to shift your containers throughout the day as you follow the sun. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plant\nWhat You Like<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Keep your aesthetic tastes or your taste buds\nin mind as you decide what to plant. If you hate spinach don\u2019t bother planting\nit. On the other hand, if you normally don\u2019t love tomatoes, for example, you might\nbe shocked by the flavor difference in a tomato you\u2019ve grown yourself. And if\nyou simply adore forget-me-nots, be sure to work them into your repertoire of\ngrowing plants. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"pathway<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Do a little research on companion planting to\nhelp you determine the kind of resources each plant will require. It\u2019s wise to group plants<\/a> requiring similar amounts of\nwater and light. Corn and beans go well together, as do beets, carrots, and\nlettuce. If planting flowers you may want to explore color schemes as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Get\nSoil Sophisticated<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For beginner gardeners, it may seem strange to\npurchase soil, much less weigh the many variations on \u201cdirt\u201d for a range of\nbenefits. But when planning your garden it is important to start things off\nright and that means getting sophisticated about soil. Think about soil like\nyou think about skincare. Do it right today and you\u2019ll reap the benefits in the\nlong term. Also, moisture matters. Good soil will help you regulate moisture\nand nurture your plants. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When it comes to container gardening, you can\nfill containers with soil from a gardening center. This soil is a blend of\norganic and inorganic matter designed to provide vital nutrients to your\nplants. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The soil in your yard is another matter and\nwill require a bit more exploration on your part to ensure you are offering\nyour plants fertile ground. First, conduct a careful examination. Learning your\nsoil type is the first step in knowing what you need to add to your soil to\nmake it ideal for growing flowers or your vegetable\ngarden. Is it clumpy and claylike or sandy and loose? If your soil is\nsandy, for example, adding organic matter such as manure or compost will help\nsupply nutrients and create a more suitable texture. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If digging into the soil isn\u2019t your thing, don\u2019t fear: there\u2019s always hydroponics<\/a> \u2013 the practice of growing plants in nutrient-rich water. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Water\nWhich Way<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of the essential steps for gardening involves being smart about your proximity to a water source. The last thing you want to do is lug water from one end of your yard to another because the hose doesn\u2019t quite reach. For smaller gardens or containers, watering can do the trick. (Bonus tip: to conserve water, place your watering can in your shower while you wait for the water to warm. Use the water you catch on your sugar snap peas, daylilies, or anything in between.)<\/em> For larger gardens, consider how you\u2019ll water daily and take this activity into account as you plan your garden. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Knowing how much water to give your plants is also central in any collection of gardening tips. To tell if your garden needs watering, push a finger about one inch into the soil. If it feels dry, water away. Finally, water at the same time every day (or every other day, depending on your weather conditions), ideally in the morning. Watering in the morning will not only help plants retain moisture but watering at the same time every day helps form a habit of mindful garden maintenance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Patience\nin All Things Growing <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Good things come to those who wait and no one\nappreciates that saying like a gardener. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"seedlings<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

With the proper resources and a hearty dose of\npatience, you too can enjoy the fruits (and vegetables) of your labor.\nLiterally. So what are you waiting for? Get to gardening! <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

You like flowers. You eat veggies. And you may have mused on the topic of how to start a garden. Springtime, especially, can inspire visions of a vegetable garden lush with the makings of a fresh salad or your new favorite side dish. Gardening is the ultimate DIY project. With the help of a little […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[39,640],"tags":[1342,1341],"class_list":["post-17529","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-diy-projects","category-your-home","tag-diy-garden","tag-how-to-garden"],"yoast_head":"\r\nHow to Start a Garden | CubeSmart Blog<\/title>\r\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Are you looking to pick up a new habit this spring? 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