7 Tips to Up Your Gardening Game

*This is a collaborative post.

Gardening does not come naturally to everyone. Not all people who want to cultivate a garden are naturally green-fingered, nor does everyone know the tips and tricks they need to elevate their results from the very beginning. It’s a process you need to lean into, develop patience for and learn as you go so you can create the perfect blooming garden that brings you joy and satisfaction.

These are just a few tips you can use to help you up your gardening game and get better results year after year.

Avoid Generic Seeds

For better results, it can be worth purchasing your flowers and seeds from nurseries that specialise in specific varieties rather than store-bought options. Sure, they might be a more sizable investment, but nurseries that cultivate only one flower, like swallowtail daylilies or a few different varieties, mean you can benefit from a higher quality plant that gives you what you need.

Use Organic Matter

Incorporating homemade mulch using organic matter is going to give your soil more nutrients and will improve soil fertility and the ability to retain moisture. Use leaf mould or well-rotted manure and add it in winter to let it settle in before spring for optimal results.

Know Your Garden

It’s not always what you plant, it’s where you plant it and the soil you plant it into. Spend some time getting to know your garden, where the rainwater runs off, and you experience more erosion. Where gets more sunlight, what type of soil do you have, and what is the best place for different plants? The more you understand your garden, the easier it will be to find the right plants and find the perfect positions, meaning you get better results.

Collect Rainwater

Rainwater is much better for plants than tap water, as it’s usually softer and it doesn’t contain the same chemicals. Install a water butt and collect rainwater for you to use for your plants. Plus, this will save you money on your water bill, too. What’s not to love about that!

Start Small

This is something that trips up many beginners, it can be extremely tempting to jump in both feet first and plant loads of different plants. But this will just lead to stress, chaos, and confusion over time. It’s best to start small, start with one variety, then as you gain more skills, things will build up from there.

Extend The Season

By using tools like cold frames or cloches, you can start your planting earlier and extend your season. Using a greenhouse gives you even more flexibility and means you can perfect your craft and learn more skills outside of the standard timeframe, and for beginners, this practice is what you need to do so you can be confident in your own skills and abilities and are able to keep learning regardless of the season.

Mulch

Mulching is essential, and you need to apply a layer of mulch around 2-3inches around our plants. Mulch retains moisture, regulates soil temperature, suppresses weeds, and is your best friend as a beginner as you are learning your craft.

Do you like gardening?