subject: Starting A Garden Is A Lot Like Playing In The Dirt [print this page] You probably played in the dirt a lot as a kid. You dug holes, sculpted castles, drove matchbox cars around on roughed out tracks. You may have had an active imagination that was unleashed every time your parents allowed you to play in the backyard, sandbox or other patch of dirt. When we grow up, it is difficult to find time to play in the dirt. That is why so many adults work so hard at starting a garden. As a gardener, you will now have an excuse to get down in the dirt and play as often or as little as you want. If you are considering starting your own garden, here are some things you should do in order to have a successful garden.
Look at your current space with a critical eye. If your space is limited and you don't have enough room outdoors for any sort of garden you will be limited to the types of plants you can easily grow inside until you move to somewhere more accommodating. If you have a yard, you will need to decide how much space to assign to your garden. How much space you have available will help you decide which plants you can grow and how expansive your garden will be. A good example of this is people who try to grow their own fruit and vegetables inside when indoor gardens are not really suited for such things.
If you desire to baby your plants, you can start sprouting them inside your home in seeding pots a few weeks or months prior to planting them. It is easier to control the conditions of the inside of your home and you have a better chance of growing plants that are sensitive or "high maintenance" this way. Some plants grow as easily as tossing a seed into the dirt. Lettuce is one such plant. To thrive, some have very specific needs when it comes to being cared for and nurtured.
Do some advance work in the ground before you start planting your seedlings. Believe it or not, you won't have much luck if you simply toss some seeds at a patch of dirt and hope they grow. You have to prepare your garden's soil before you plant anything in it. Things like rocks and other forms of debris need to be cleared out. Till the garden's soil so that it can get enough oxygen. If you are doing container or indoor gardening begin preparing your seedling pots or getting your containers ready to hold soil and water.
Beginning a garden is hard work but tons of fun. If you allow yourself the time to learn about gardening before you begin, there is no reason your garden won't be plentiful. Have fun with your garden! It's a reason to get outside and play!
