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Ten gardening tips for beginners

<p>Wondering how to start a garden? You can find your confidence to do it with these expert gardening tips.</p> <p><strong>Site it right</strong></p> <p>Starting a garden is pretty much all about location. Place your garden in a part of your yard where you'll see it regularly because if it’s out of sight, it’ll be out of mind. This way, you'll be much more likely to spend time in it.</p> <p><strong>Follow the sun</strong></p> <p>Misjudging sunlight is a common pitfall when you're first learning to garden. Pay attention to how sunlight plays through your yard before choosing a spot for your garden. Most edible plants, including many vegetables, herbs, and fruits, need at least six hours of sun in order to thrive.</p> <p><strong>Stay close to water</strong></p> <p>One of the best gardening tips you'll ever get is to plan your new garden near a water source. Make sure you can run a hose to your garden site, so you don't have to carry water to it each time your plants get thirsty. The best way to tell if plants need watering is to push a finger an inch down into the soil (that's about one knuckle deep). If it's dry, it's time to water.</p> <p><strong>Start with great soil</strong></p> <p>When starting a garden, one of the top pieces of advice is to invest in soil which is nutrient-rich and well-drained. You can buy garden soil from hardware stores and mix this in with existing soil to make it more nutrient- dense for your plants.</p> <p><strong>Consider containers</strong></p> <p>When space is at a premium, look to containers. You can grow many plants in pots, including vegetables, herbs, flowers, fruit trees, berries, and shrubs. When gardening in containers, use a pot that's large enough for the plant it's hosting, and fill it with some potting mix. This will help the plants to thrive and it will also protect against over and under watering.</p> <p><strong>Choose the right plants</strong></p> <p>It's important to select plants which match your growing conditions. This means putting sun-loving plants into a sunny spot, choosing heat-tolerant plants in warm climates, and giving ground-gobbling vines like pumpkins and melons ample elbow room - or a trellis to climb up. Do your homework and pick varieties which will grow well where you live and in the space you have.</p> <p><strong>Discover your zone</strong></p> <p>Knowing your ‘hardiness zone’ can help you choose the best plants. Simply put, it describes the coldest place a plant can grow. The higher the zone number, the warmer the climate. So, if a plant is ‘hardy to zone 4’ and you garden in zone 5, that plant will survive in your yard. If, however, you're in zone 3, it's too cold to grow that particular plant.</p> <p><strong>Learn your frost dates</strong></p> <p>Planting too early or late in the season can spell disaster for your garden. You need to know the last average spring frost date for your area so you don't accidentally kill plants by putting them out prematurely. It's also good to know your first average fall frost date so you can get your plants harvested or moved indoors before late-season cold damages them.</p> <p><strong>Add some mulch</strong></p> <p>Apply a layer of mulch that's two to three inches deep around each plant. This will help reduce weeds by blocking out the sun, and reduce moisture loss through evaporation, so you have to water less. Or, you can put down straw, shredded leaves, pine straw or some other locally available material.</p> <p><strong>Feed plants regularly</strong></p> <p>We've already talked about the importance of starting with great soil, but that soil works best in concert with regular boosts of high-quality nutrition for your plants. In other words, amazing soil + top-notch plant food = super garden success!</p> <p>So, a month after planting, begin feeding your garden with some plant food you’re your local store and be sure to follow label directions.</p> <p><em>Photos: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em> </em></p> <p><em> </em></p> <p><em> </em></p> <p><em> </em></p>

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3 things a first-time gardener needs to know

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As it’s the beginning of a new year, many are thinking about what kind of hobbies they’d like to take in 2020. If gardening is on your list, here are three things that beginner gardeners need to know.</span></p> <p><strong>1. Don’t start too big</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Beginner gardeners might just see what kind of seeds they want to grow and begin planting, but according to Barbara Murphy, a master gardener coordinator and horticulturist with the University of Maine, this is the opposite of what you should do.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Starting too large is the most common mistake made by first-time gardeners,” said Barbara Murphy, a master gardener coordinator and horticulturist with University of Maine Cooperative Extension for 23 years.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Limit yourself to 10 feet by 10 feet, [3 metres by 3 metres]” she says. “If you grow frustrated because of too many things happening the first year, there’s a good chance you won’t feel like gardening for a second. You can always expand as your skills develop.”</span></p> <p><strong>2. Know your soil</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Knowing what your garden needs soil wise is vital for success.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Good soil preparation is important to success, but be patient,” said Rosie Lerner, an extension horticulturist with Purdue University to <a href="https://www.staradvertiser.com/2020/01/05/features/advice-to-first-time-gardeners-think-small-and-find-your-spot/"><em>Star Advertiser</em></a>. “Don’t force the soil when it’s wet. Soil structures will compact and get tight. That makes it tough for water and air to move through and greatly inhibits growth.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Squeeze the soil gently in your hand. If it crumbles a bit when squeezed, it’s ready for use. “It can take a long time to get good soil texture, and just minutes to destroy it if you work it while it’s too wet,” Lerner said.</span></p> <p><strong>3. Get rid of insects as quickly as possible</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Insects are bad news for growing gardens.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Make regular visits to your garden to check for plant pests,” Murphy said. “Don’t worry about the adults. You want to go after the eggs before they develop into juvenile leaf cutters. Most eggs are on the underside of leaves. Use soapy water and picking or simply remove the infested leaves.”</span></p>

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5 ways to enrich garden soil

<p>Healthier garden soil means healthier plants. It is the foundation of successful gardening and thus worth paying attention to.</p> <p>Here are 5 ways you can enrich your garden soil.</p> <p><strong>1. Spread grass</strong></p> <div id="page1" class="slide-show"> <div id="test" class="slide"> <div class="slide-description"> <p>Grass clippings add nutrients as they decompose. They also provide shade, keeping roots cool and reducing water loss in hot weather.</p> <p>Mix them with leaf litter or dig into the soil to avoid them forming a mat that will repel water.</p> <div class="at-below-post addthis_tool" data-url="https://www.handyman.net.au/5-ways-enrich-garden-soil"><strong>2. Use manure</strong></div> <div class="at-below-post addthis_tool" data-url="https://www.handyman.net.au/5-ways-enrich-garden-soil"> <div id="page2" class="slide-show"> <div id="test" class="slide"> <div class="slide-description"> <p>Cow manure improves soil micro-organisms and chicken manure, which is high in nitrogen and phosphorus, is great for the lawn and vegie patch.</p> <p><strong>TIP:</strong><span> </span>Don’t use manure from carnivores, such as dogs and cats.</p> <div class="at-below-post addthis_tool" data-url="https://www.handyman.net.au/5-ways-enrich-garden-soil"><strong>3. Lay straw</strong></div> <div class="at-below-post addthis_tool" data-url="https://www.handyman.net.au/5-ways-enrich-garden-soil"> <div id="page3" class="slide-show"> <div id="test" class="slide"> <div class="slide-description"> <p>Lucerne hay and pea straw strengthen the soil, so they’re highly recommended. They also break down fairly quickly, which gives the soil a quick nutrient injection, and can be dug in to speed up the process.</p> <div class="at-below-post addthis_tool" data-url="https://www.handyman.net.au/5-ways-enrich-garden-soil"><strong>4. Use bark</strong></div> <div class="at-below-post addthis_tool" data-url="https://www.handyman.net.au/5-ways-enrich-garden-soil"> <div id="page4" class="slide-show"> <div id="test" class="slide"> <div class="slide-description"> <p>These mulches take longer to break down, so they don’t need applying as often.</p> <p>They shade the soil, help retain moisture, repel weeds and look decorative, but don’t add many nutrients to the plants.</p> <div class="at-below-post addthis_tool" data-url="https://www.handyman.net.au/5-ways-enrich-garden-soil"><strong>5. Add compost</strong></div> <div class="at-below-post addthis_tool" data-url="https://www.handyman.net.au/5-ways-enrich-garden-soil"> <div id="page5" class="slide-show"> <div id="test" class="slide"> <div class="slide-description"> <p>A well-rounded source of goodness, compost allows water to penetrate the soil. It provides slow-release nutrients, attracts worms and encourages a healthy root system. Best of all, you can make it from kitchen scraps.</p> <div class="at-below-post addthis_tool" data-url="https://www.handyman.net.au/5-ways-enrich-garden-soil"> <p><em>Written by Handyman. Republished with permission of </em><a href="https://www.handyman.net.au/5-ways-enrich-garden-soil"><em>Handyman</em></a><em>. </em></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div>

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How to improve your soil without a compost heap

<p>It’s commonly known that a great way to save on waste and enrich your soil naturally is by use of a compost heap. Unfortunately, when you’ve already dedicated much of your yard to a garden, not everyone has enough space to have one. Not to mention the smell. These tips will show you how to naturally supplement your soil without creating a cumbersome, smelly compost pile.</p> <p><strong>Coffee grounds</strong></p> <p>Coffee grounds don’t need to be composted over time and so can be added directly to your garden’s soil. The grounds increase the nitrogen levels in your garden, which is beneficial to your plants’ growth. They also aid in soil aeration, drainage, and water retention.</p> <p><strong>Banana peels</strong></p> <p>Banana peels are another waste product that can be placed directly into your garden. Cut the skins into small pieces and place them amongst the soil. The presence of the peels will increase your earth worm population while adding much-needed nutrients to your plants’ bed.</p> <p><strong>Egg shells</strong></p> <p>Crushed eggshells add calcium to your garden and help fend off slugs and snails, the presence of which can be detrimental to the health of your plants. Wash your eggshells, leave in sun to dry, crush into small pieces and add directly to your soil. Crushing them helps them to break down more quickly in your soil.</p> <p><strong>But what if I still want a compost pile?</strong></p> <p>If you still like the idea of having an actual compost pile to help reduce your kitchen waste and add the most nutrients to your garden, you’re in luck. There are now innovative technologies that allow you to compost inside your home without the smell. Try a stainless steel or ceramic compost keeper with a replaceable air filter.</p>

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What you need to know about your soil’s pH levels

<p>If you’re wondering why, despite following instructions to the letter, your plants still aren’t thriving, the problem might be in your soil’s pH. All plants have a preferred range of soil acidity and if the pH level is not conducive to your plants, a host of problems often follow. Here’s what you should know.</p> <p><strong>What is pH?</strong></p> <p>In a scale running from zero to 14, pH units measure the acidity or alkalinity of a substance. A pH level of seven is neutral and as numbers decrease from seven, the acidity rises, whereas when numbers increase from seven, the higher the alkalinity. Generally, soil ranges from an extremely acidic pH of three to a very alkaline pH of 10. The pH level is affected by many different factors like rainfall, temperature and vegetation type. Most plants enjoy slightly acidic conditions with a pH level of six-and-a-half but common exceptions include blueberries, potatoes, azaleas, and rhododendrons, which like moderately acid soil.</p> <p><strong>What does pH do?</strong></p> <p>Soil pH indirectly but importantly influence how easily plants can take up nutrients from the soil. Plant roots absorb nutrients such as nitrogen and iron when dissolved in water. If the mixture of water and nutrients in the soil is too acid or alkaline, some nutrients won’t dissolve and so will not be absorbed by the roots. Most plants thrive in slightly acidic soil that range from six to seven-and-a-half but once pH level is below six, nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, are less available. If the pH rises above seven-and-a-half, iron, manganese, and phosphorus are less available.</p> <p><strong>How do you adjust your pH levels?</strong></p> <p>Firstly, you need to know what the current pH level is so you can determine if you need to raise or lower the acidity. A simple soil test can be done at home with a pH kit purchased from most nurseries and garden centres.</p> <p>If your soil is too acid, add an alkaline material to correct the soil. The most common material is ground limestone, which is available in two types: calcitic limestone (calcium carbonate) and dolomitic limestone (calcium-magnesium carbonate). If soil is too alkaline, the most common material to add is sulphur. Both are available in powdered and pelletised form, but pellets are easier to spread uniformly. Mix materials with top soil if quick action is needed, otherwise just lay pellets or powder on top of ground and let it work its way down.</p> <p><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://plantsplus.com.au/resource-centre/catalogues/" target="_blank">Check out the latest catalogue from Plants Plus here</a></strong></span> for some great prices on plants as well as more tips and inspiration for your garden.</em></p>

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