Apartment Therapy Archive: Dec 3, 2019

One of the most common reasons people throw up their hands — and throw in the trowel — is the discouragement they feel when their plants die. But guess what: it happens to even the most experienced gardener. Don’t despair! Whether it’s your first time or fiftieth time planting a garden, these easy-grow, easy-care plants will make plant shopping a little less intimidating and a lot more successful.

Maybe you’re convinced you’ll never move beyond that notorious black thumb, or maybe you’ve tended a few herbs on your windowsill but feel too intimidated to try more. Whatever the case may be, let this year be the year you start your very own garden! From container gardening in a courtyard to vegetable gardening in a backyard, we’ve got you covered at Apartment Therapy with our step-by-step Gardening School.

Gardens can take many forms, but today we’ll tackle the three main types of gardens you can start with a basic supply list: container gardens, raised bed gardens, and in-ground gardens. You might already know what type you’ll be growing, since it’s usually determined by your space and your lifestyle. Each garden has its pros and cons, but in many instances, you can mix and match the type of garden to your needs.

There was a time when growing a garden meant raising all your plants from seed. Now with nurseries and commercial growers, gardeners can fill their beds with a wide range of seedlings and small plants without waiting a whole season for them to mature. How you decide to start your garden depends on how much time and money you have, and what types of plants you want to grow.

Gardens and gardeners come in all sizes, shapes, and needs. We may be short or tall, left-handed or right-handed. We may be starting a few planter boxes on the deck or growing entire rows of vegetables in the backyard. Thus, the tools that work for one person may not work for another. Complicating (or perhaps simplifying?) matters even more are tools that can serve multiple purposes.

In lesson seven I reviewed the pros and cons of starting your garden from seeds or starts. If you’re feeling ambitious and want to start all (or at least a few) of your plants from seed, the question is: should you start them indoors or outdoors? Well, that depends on when you’re getting started and how long your growing season is.

You’ve sited your space, you’ve picked your plants, you’ve shopped for tools… and now it’s go time! You’re (almost) ready to start planting! No matter what type of garden you’re growing, prepping your space is all about prepping the soil properly. By now, you should know the type of soil your plants like and what kind of nutrients they need in order to thrive.

Hooray, it’s planting day! Once you’ve prepped your space, finally being able to put all those seedlings and starts in the garden feels like a great accomplishment. Whether you’re transplanting your own seedlings started from seed or young plants purchased from the nursery, there are a few simple steps to take to ensure the little guys will survive the move. Transplant shock occurs when a plant is moved from one location to another, placing environmental stress on its system.

At some point in your gardening journey, you’re going to encounter holes, spots, or blemishes on your leaves, or an unexpected annihilation of your plants overnight. Pests are an inevitable part of gardening, and it’s amazing what these tiny creatures can do in a short period of time. While it might seem like you’re waging a war against all these big, bad bugs, the fact of the matter is, only 10% of the insects found in your garden are actually harmful.

Though we often think of spring as a good time to prep and plant a garden, you can actually start planning well before the snow melts and continue planting all the way until the first freeze in fall. If you live in a frost-free region, lucky you — you can garden year-round! How do you determine the best time to prep or plant? The most reliable source is your local independent garden center, which can offer general growing guidelines for your particular climate.

Of all the tasks that come with maintaining a garden, watering seems like it would be a no-brainer — you just aim a hose and spray, right? But inconsistency in watering is often a prime factor in plant failures, so let’s take a look at the how, what, and when of watering your plants properly. This simple question leads to several answers, most of which hinge on the type of plants you’re growing and what kind of garden you have.

The best-laid plans for a garden come after living in your home for a year, watching how the sun moves throughout the day in all the seasons, how much moisture you get and where it goes, and whether one area of your yard is more prone to wind than another. But if you want to get started right away, keep these things in mind as they’ll help you plot out a successful garden. Amount of sunlight and access to water are two major factors that go into selecting a good site for your garden.

Congratulations on making it this far and having a beautiful garden to show for it! But while the initial grunt work is done, your plants still need a little TLC to keep them looking and performing their best. Strive to spend at least one afternoon a week (or a few minutes a day) to walk among your beds, pick a few flowers, or simply sit in your garden and take it all in.

Soil is the unsung hero of a garden. Often regarded as just dirt, it takes a backseat to the glamorous flora of a garden but it’s always hard at work below the surface. Soil is the very foundation on which your plants feed and thrive, serving as a medium for housing beneficial microbes and earthworms and a reservoir for delivering vital moisture and nutrients to the roots. When you garden, you’re actually growing the soil, rather than the plants.

You’ve got the site and the soil dialed in, and now comes the fun part: the plants! Part of making your garden plan is deciding what types of plants you want to grow and how they’ll coexist in your space. All of the previous lessons — knowing how much sun your yard receives each day, what climate zone you’re in, and when you’re ready to plant — will aid a great deal in this process, so be sure you read them before you move on.