Top Tips for Developing Your Own Green Thumb

If you are determined to turn around a life that has so far seen you killing plants, not raising them, then you will be happy to learn that this is actually more than possible to do. There are so many ways that you can develop your gardening skills to help turn your little stretch of backyard into a horticultural paradise. Here are some of the best places to start.

The Lawn

The lawn is likely to be the biggest expanse of green that you have in your property, but it is also likely to be one that needs a fair bit of maintenance. You need to make sure that the lawn is healthy and growing well, and this can be more difficult than it sounds.

Through no fault of your own, you can end up with dry patches and sparse growth, and it can be difficult to turn things around if you don’t have the know-how. Therefore, you might want to look into professional help, as can be provided by a company like R&L Irrigation Services who can develop a custom lawn maintenance plan for your garden. They will be able to help you fill in some of the gaps and create the lawn that you have always wanted.

Pick Easy Flowers

Everyone has their favourite flowers, but the truth is that your favourite might be quite difficult to look after. For example, people love the look of climbing rose bushes. The rose is a classic flower, and it is one that many fall in love with. However, roses require a lot of care to get the beautiful blooms we all want.

Pruning them is difficult for amateurs and you need to watch out for the thorns, or you will end up cut to shreds. Likewise, you will want to watch out for aphids and other small insects that could end up causing an issue to the plants themselves.

There are several plants out there that are easy to grow, and could be brilliant additions to your garden. Whether you are scattering them in planters around your decking or adding them to a flowerbed, they should hopefully be your first step in looking after thriving plants.

Don’t Pick Dominant Plants

There are some plant species out there that look amazing in gardens, but it is very easy to lose control of them. It might be fine one moment, only for you to turn your back and the plant to rampage across its flowerbeds. They can be difficult to get rid of, and might even require specialist help to fully remove from your garden.

If you are planting a garden fresh, make sure you know what every type of plant is long before you put it in the ground. If you have inherited a garden from a previous owner, make sure you go round and make a note of everything. Take pictures of all the plants and try to match them up with guides online. The more you can learn about your new garden, the more you will be able to adapt and provide support to your plants when they need it.

Try Growing Fruits and Vegetables

One of the most difficult yet rewarding tasks in a garden is growing your own fruits and vegetables. There is nothing quite like sitting down to a meal and knowing that you had a hand in growing some of the food that is before you.

A vegetable garden takes a lot of time and commitment, but you also get a delicious product at the end of it! You can find classes and plenty of resources online that can get you started. One of your first major choices should be the soil within the vegetable beds themselves. Different plants need varying types of soil, and you need to work out what you have in your garden and what you might need to buy in.

If you want to start small, try a herb garden. Herbs are easy to care for and you can often buy grown plants and plant them outside rather than attempt to cultivate seedlings. You can then move onto to other plants like tomatoes and potatoes if these are successful. If you really want a challenge, trying to cultivate a lemon tree or grapevine is difficult but could result in some interesting little fruits if you are successful!

Though learning to tackle a garden might seem like a monumental task, it is actually much easier than it first appears. You just need to do your research and properly study how to care for your plants. If you do so, you might find that gardening is a far easier pursuit than you first thought. Some people take to it really easily, and for others it might be a lot more work. Either way, it is the perfect hobby to get you out in the fresh air more!