Tips for perfect summer gardening

Home gardening is arguably one of the most satisfying hobbies. You can plant flowers and be rewarded daily with beautiful flourishes of reds, pinks, yellows and oranges. You can plant vegetables and deliciously devour the fruits of your labour, like garden-fresh peas or oh-so-sweet baby carrots. You can even plant herbs and keep them all year ‘round so that your salads, pasta sauces and tasty chicken dishes never go without a fresh herb. The possibilities are endless with this creative hobby.

 

Follow these fun tips so that you too can show off a bountiful garden this year.

 

When to Water

 

Lots of people think that watering your plants anytime during the day is fine as long as they are getting water. Wrong. It’s actually most beneficial to water your plants in the cool of the day, right when you wake up. Watering too late at night can lead to mildew and allow other fungi to grow while watering in the heat of the day will allow more water to evaporate and less water to reach your plants roots.  If you have to water later in the day, just make sure you leave enough time for the water to dry off the leaves before sunset.

 

No Shade

 

Very few plants do well in direct sunlight 100% of the time. However, often the easiest spot for a garden is in a wide-open space with little around it. If this is the case, consider planting a tree, shrub or building a fence to provide some relief for your plants during certain parts of the day. Make sure to research the amount of sunlight your plants need before planting them, since they will all vary in exposure time.

 

Extra Food, Extra Growth

 

Just like people, plants can survive on the basics, but they flourish better with some extra love. Depending on who you talk to, most gardening experts recommend that you use a fertilizer on your soil and in your water. Using a fertilizer in the soil will help to retain moisture and keep plants insulated when the temperatures rise while fertilizer in your water will consistently feed your plants on a daily basis to boost growth and minimize mineral deficiencies.

 

Pesky Pests

 

Now, this is a tricky one. No one likes a pest who eats away at your plant’s leaves or nibbles away on your cherry tomatoes. BUT, not all pests are bad. Earthworms help increase the amount of water and air that gets to the soil and bumblebees are great for pollination. It is often safe to use a general garden pesticide aimed at the regular menaces but does not use something bug-specific until you are sure which particular bug is causing the problem.

 

Many will say gardening is an art, but it also a science. With the right amount of water, food, shade and healthy bugs, a perfect garden is very attainable. If you’re looking for extra help in the gardening department, buy sprouted plants instead of seeds. Start with hearty plants like tomatoes, lettuce and snap peas instead of finicky ones. Buy fresh soil and plant in pots or a garden box instead of battling weeds and dryness in the ground. There are always ways to perfect your garden, so why not start trying now?