Have a desire to dive head first into the world of gardening, but unsure where to start? It is important that when you start gardening that you know your limits and know what tasks are too much for you.
If you have a major task that needs to be done like a tree removal then it is important you get in professionals to make sure you don’t injure yourself.
Preparation is key
First and foremost, you’ll need to plan what type of garden you want. Are you wanting a herb, vegetable, flower or mixed garden? From here, you’ll then need to consider the amount of space you have, as well as the amount of sunlight and shade available. Almost all vegetables and most flowers need up to about 6 hours of daylight each day, whilst some plants love shade. Be smart about your plant choices and ensure you do your research before planting.
Check your soil type
Speaking of research, another area to consider is the type of soil you have at home. There are three basic types of soil: clay, loam and sand. Loam is the ideal type of soil, as it’s porous and retains moisture easily. With soil, some plants thrive better in one type than the other, so it’s important to choose plants that are well suited to what you have. If you’re not sure what type of soil you have, check what type of plants are growing in your neighbour’s garden.
Go for low maintenance plants
If you’re just starting out, we’d recommend to begin with a few low maintenance plants and work your way up from there. We’re very lucky here in Australia to have a wide range of beautiful native plants that don’t require too much attention. Choose anything from the likes of Westringia, Callistemon, Coast Banksia and Ornamental Grasses. Other low maintenance plants you could also look at are succulents, perennial plants Kalanchoes, Crassula, Agave, Carrisa and Raphiolpepis
Weeds are your enemy
It’s important to learn early on that weeds are not your friend. Not only do weeds compete with your plants for nutrients within your soil, but they also compete for sunlight and water as well. They often grow a lot faster as well, so it’s easier for them to outgrow your plants and take what they need, leaving your plants to rot. One of the easiest ways to get rid of weeds is to prevent them from occurring in the first place, with the application of mulch.
Mulch prevents weeds from sunlight and the nutrients they need to grow in the first place.
Otherwise, you can pull existing weeds by hand or use weed-specific herbicides to get rid of them (it is good to avoid herbicides if possible).
Maintain what you’ve got
Now that you’ve got your garden up and running, make sure you look after it! Set some time aside each week in the summer to take care of your new garden and keep track of when it’s time to water, fertilise and prune your plants.
Have some fun
Gardening for beginners should be fun! Allow yourself to experiment with different types of plants and challenge yourself to growing a variety of new things. If you’ve realised you’ve planted something in the wrong place, don’t stress! Most plants and shrubs, even baby trees, can be uprooted and replanted.
by Matt Leacy at Landart
