• Blog
  • Home
  • How to Start a Blog
  • Privacy Policy
    • Facebook
    • Google+
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

The Shabby Creek Cottage

Hundreds of ideas for creative ways to eat, make & decorate!

  • Chalk Couture SHOP
  • eat
    • Dessert
    • Drink
    • Dinner
    • Side Dishes
  • make
    • crafts…
    • diy projects
    • cleaning and organizing
    • holiday
      • Christmas
      • Easter
      • Halloween
      • 4th of July
      • Valentine’s Day
    • freebies
  • decorate
  • subscribe

10 Tips For A Successful Garden

Spring is here! Often there is so much talk about spring cleaning INSIDE, that we often forget about the spring cleaning and preparing that needs to happen OUTSIDE. Whether the weather is proving it or not, it is time to prepare for the gardening season. Not preparing far enough in advance, can mean a less fruitful harvest. Having the best groundwork for planting a garden, can ensure a productive garden. Let these 10 tips for a successful garden guide you to a most bountiful harvest!

1. Know when to start the seeds indoors. Information on knowing when and where to start, is found on the seed packet, and also on the internet.

2. Figure out the transplant date, which is typically after the last spring frost.

3. How many seeds? This is often a common question, but the answer can be found on your seed packet! Thinning out may be recommended, but not always needed.

4. Know your garden. After tilling the ground, know where the sunniest and shadiest spots are. Some plants require more sun than others (like tomatoes). Other plants like lettuce and peas, can use a little break from the sun. Know where the sun hits the hardest in your garden.

5. When planting, mark your rows with strings and markers, so that you know what is coming up where.

6. As your plants start to come up, know what the plant should look like. Gardeners can get weeding-happy and end up pulling up their new garden! For example, carrots and lettuce can get in the mix, so be sure to know where you plant what. Also know what is what.

7. Be sure to water, but not to much. Water is always good for a newly planted garden, but be careful to not drown your seeds and plants, where rotting can occur. Water enough so the dirt isn’t dry and crumbly, but not too much, where water drips as you form a ball out of the dirt.

8. If you are known to have some wandering creatures around your garden, consider putting up a fence with stakes. This can protect from animals like squirrels and rabbits. If you have a large garden, consider putting up a higher fence to fend off deer. Of course this is completely dependent on where you live. Know what other “neighbors” might be milling around!

9. Have the right tools. Here are some recommended gardening tools to keep on hand:

  • Garden fork – turn and mix small amounts of dirt around plants
  • Spade – get deep and dig up large portions of weeds
  • Hoe – a weeding essential
  • Leaf rake – level dirt, spread mulch, rake in lawn clippings (great weed preventer)
  • Pruner – trim back those branches so you will have more growth
  • Wheelbarrow – cart away weeds and the unwanted
  • Watering wand – don’t drown your plants, but give them a gentle “rain”
  • Gloves – keep your nails and hands from dirt stains
  • Kneeling pad – save your body and knees

10. Keep up on the harvest so that produce does not get too ripe. For example, beans can overgrow, becoming not as crisp, and prevent new growth from happening. Keeping up on your plants, will ensure the most bountiful of harvests!
Maintaining a garden may seem like such a chore at the time, but in reality, if you think about the yield and how your family can enjoy the harvest for months to come, it all of a sudden becomes a well-worth-it process. During those long days of weeding, remember back to those days in January, when you are enjoying that can of green beans from the garden! Gardening is hard work, but when you literally see the fruits of your labor, it is worth every pull of that weed!
Find more practical and useful tips from Kristin on her blog Organizing Life With Less.

 

ARE YOU A FARMHOUSE FAN?
Get instant access to this free guide to The Best Sources for a Farmhouse Style Home on a Budget!
YOUR NAME:
YOUR EMAIL:
_____________

Filed Under: cleaning and organizing, DIY

« make this: DIY tea towels
make this: easy outdoor word art »
become a blogger banner

Comments

  1. Bliss says

    April 1, 2014 at 10:53 am

    This is the year I plan on reaping what I sow. Nothing big, but I want it easy to maintain so we will actually work with it. I am worried about #2, it dipped back down to 20 again here.

    Reply
  2. Shelly Andrade says

    April 1, 2014 at 9:16 pm

    I am SO looking forward to seeing the ground again! We had one warm day yesterday, so we may actually get a Spring after all! Goodbye Winter!!! Can’t wait!!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Gina Luker

Privacy Policy & Disclosure Statement

Searching For Something?

The Shabby Creek Cottage is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com

[instagram-feed]

Copyright © 2023 · Divine theme by Restored 316

Copyright © 2023 The Shabby Creek Cottage Log in

ARE YOU A FARMHOUSE FAN?
Get instant access to this free guide to The Best Sources for a Farmhouse Style Home on a Budget!
YOUR NAME:
YOUR EMAIL:
_____________