12 gardening hacks for newbies

Gardening is an art. It is true that it is an expression of nature, but each garden, each patio, even each balcony decorated with plants is unique and unrepeatable , even if they have been designed in the same style. Each of us can contribute something of their own that will make that space personal.

So that the landscape can look spectacular almost from the beginning, we are going to give you 12 gardening tricks that will be very useful whether you are a novice or if you have been involved in this fascinating world for some time.

Index

  • 1 Have a lot of patience and be constant
  • 2 Choose native plants
  • 3 Check soil moisture before watering
  • 4 Put ground plants
  • 5 Use natural products to repel and eliminate pests
  • 6 Prune your rose bushes so that they give better roses
  • 7 Place the plants in their proper location
  • 8 Change pots your plants
  • 9 Put labels on your seedbeds and pots
  • 10 Fertilize for better growth
  • 11 Place invasive root trees away from buildings
  • 12 Plant the bulbs together

Have a lot of patience and be constant

I know. I know what it is to have an empty lot. It seems that he is asking you to cover him with plants and flowers, right? But you cannot expect to have the garden done in the same day ; not even a perfectly decorated balcony can be ready in 24 hours.

Be patient. Go doing work little by little , and you will see how you will get the garden or patio of your dreams.

Choose native plants

Prunus dulcis, the scientific name of the almond tree.

Native plants are those that grow wild in your area. They are the most recommended to grow, since they resist the conditions of the place without problems . But if you don’t end up liking them, don’t worry: you can always buy those that live in places with a similar climate, which are those that are grown in the outdoor facilities of the closest nurseries.

Check soil moisture before watering

Metal watering can watering an orange tree

Irrigation is a complicated task, but very important. Every time it is watered, avoid wetting the flowers and leaves , and at the same time try to make sure that the soil is well soaked (but not puddled).

Even so, the risk of rotting the roots is high, so it is always better to check the humidity of the soil before watering , inserting a thin wooden stick and seeing how much has adhered to it (if it comes out clean, we can irrigate), or using a digital moisture meter.

Put ground plants

Plant of the species Alternanthera dentata

The lawn is wonderful, we are not going to deny it, but it requires a lot of maintenance. A good alternative is to plant ground cover plants, which do not need as much water and will also produce small but very pretty flowers .

Use natural products to repel and eliminate pests

Garlic, perfect for keeping pests away.

Plants, no matter how well we take care of them, can be affected by various pests: aphids , cochineals, thrips , spider mites … In nurseries we can find synthetic insecticides that will eliminate them quickly, but we have to bear in mind that these products are toxic also to beneficial animals, such as ladybugs .

Therefore, from here I recommend you use natural products to repel pests , and also to eliminate them if they have not spread much.

Prune your rose bushes so that they give better roses

white color rose

Rose bushes are shrubs that are often grown in gardens, on patios,… in short, anywhere. They produce spectacular flowers for most of the year, but they do need regular pruning. Thus, you have to remove the withered flowers, and do a little more vigorous pruning at the end of winter , cutting the stems about 3-5cm.

Place the plants in their proper location

potted echinocactus

Plants need light to grow; however, it sometimes happens that they are not placed in the location that they should be. Consequently, the leaves and branches begin to etiolate, that is, to lengthen in order to capture more light, or on the contrary they burn. 

In general, trees, palms, flowering plants, and cacti should be grown in full sun, but there are exceptions. For example, maples, begonias and kentias are just a few that cannot be exposed to the sun. On the other hand, indoor plants need to be in a room with plenty of light so they can grow well.

If you have doubts, ask us 🙂 .

Repot your plants

Potted plant inside the house

One of the mistakes that is most often made is thinking that a plant can live its entire life in the same pot; However, this is not so. Plants that are grown in containers normally need to be transplanted every 1-2 years , moving to a larger one that has new substrate.

Put labels on your seedbeds and pots

labels and pen

The labels are very useful to know when you planted the seeds, or the scientific name of a plant in question . They are also very cheap (you can get them for 2 cents each), so having your pots well classified and organized will not cost you much 🙂 .

So that what you write does not get erased, you can use a pencil.

Fertilize for better growth

Worm humus for plants

As important as the water is the fertilizer. Plant beings need to “eat” in order to have good growth and development , except carnivorous plants, since they obtain the nutrients they need by hunting insects and eating them. If this is taken into account, during the entire growing season, that is, from early spring to late summer, it is necessary to fertilize regularly .

As fertilizer you can use wood ashes, coffee or tea grounds, compost, banana peels, and much more.

Place invasive root trees away from buildings

Ficus benjamina in the garden

Trees that have invasive roots, such as Ficus, Ulmus or Fraxinus, must be planted at a minimum distance of 5-10m from pipes, swimming pools, cement floors, etc., otherwise you could end up with serious problems.

In addition, it is important to know how much space that tree is going to occupy when it is an adult and to place it in an area where it can develop well.

Plant the bulbs together

tulips in the garden

If you want a dense carpet of gorgeous bulbous plants, plant the bulbs closer together than the packaging recommends. In this way, you will be able to place a few more within the same space, thus achieving that when they bloom, no one can stop looking at them .

In the event that you grow them in a pot, make sure that it has holes for water drainage, as these plants do not like to have “wet feet”.

12 gardening hacks for newbies

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