5 Tips for Starting your Own Garden This Spring

5 Tips for Starting your Own Garden This Spring 

Have you been craving fresh fruits and vegetables? Maybe you’ve just been looking for a new hobby, or maybe you want a change of scenery and new life around your home. If so, now’s the perfect time to start your own garden! Planting your own garden shouldn’t be an overwhelming or tiring experience. Follow our advice to help make starting your own garden simple, enjoyable, and beneficial for you and your family.

Planning

When starting anything new, it’s always good to have a plan. The first step in your planning process when starting your own garden is to decide on the perfect location. Look for sunny locations that maybe have some morning or afternoon shade, and areas that don’t get too saturated when it rains. Decide if you want to plant directly into the ground or if you want to have garden beds. Raised garden beds can be helpful when getting started to ensure you can prepare the soil and better control the temperature in the ground. Raised beds are a great option for beginner gardeners. You also need to decide if you’ll be growing flowers, food, or both!

Preparing the Soil 

Next on your list is preparing the soil for your garden. It is crucial that you start your garden on the right foot with healthy soil to foster a prosperous garden. Adding organic matter is a great way to ensure your soil is nice and healthy. Build a compost to use the organic matter to help your soil thrive. 

If you do not use raised beds for your garden, it is essential to clear rocks and other debris from your garden space. Also be sure to loosen the soil so your plants can root. If you’re able, use a tiller to get deep into the ground so your plants’ roots will have lots of room to grow. Lastly, if you are concerned about the health of your soil, you can send a sample of soil for testing to determine the soil type as well as what nutrients your soil may be needing. 

Choosing Plants

The best part of starting your own garden is picking your favorite fruits and vegetables! Do your research to determine what fruits and vegetables are in season when you’re getting ready to plant to ensure success in your home garden. Check out this list of fruits and vegetables to get your imagination flowing on all the things you can grow in your garden! 

• • • Cucumbers
    • Lettuce
    • Cabbage 
    • Carrots
    • Tomatoes
    • Broccoli 
    • Potatoes 
    • Onions
    • Strawberries

Planting

When planting the fruits, veggies, or flowers you’ve chosen, ensure you give your plants enough space from one another and label each one so you don’t get them confused. Each plant may have its own care instructions. Don’t start planting your garden until the last frost of the winter season has passed. Although some fruits and vegetables can withstand more frigid temperatures, you don’t want to hinder your garden’s success by putting new plants in the ground without the appropriate climate.

Maintaining Your Garden 

Now that your garden is in full swing, the final step is maintenance for your garden. To ensure the health of your plants, follow these tips for maintaining your garden.

• • • Do not overwater your plants, and be sure the soil is dry before a second watering. 
    • Get rid of any weeds preventing your garden from thriving. 
    • Protect your plants from animals by placing a barrier around your garden. 

Lastly, you will want to manage pests that will ultimately arrive in your garden. To create a safe, non-toxic pesticide, mix one tablespoon of liquid soap with a quart of warm water into a spray bottle. Another great way to keep your plants safe is to plant flowers around your garden to repel the bad bugs that can be harmful to your plants. Marigolds and petunias are great options to repel the bad bugs! 

Did you know? 

Did you know this fun fact? There are also tons of plants that can help improve the air quality inside your home as well. Adding plants around your home can help you breathe easier throughout the spring season! Check out these beautiful and easy plants to care for to help improve the air inside your home. 

• • • Peace Lily 
    • Snake Plant
    • Bamboo Plant
    • Ferns
    • Aloe Vera

Contact Us

After a long day of gardening, you want to ensure that your home is comfortable and ready for relaxation!  Contact us at (256)-308-0032 if you have any questions about your indoor air quality or HVAC system! We offer maintenance plans through our ComfortCare Club as well as a variety of air purification systems to keep your home fresh and comfortable.

We are your trusted American Standard Heating & Air Conditioning Customer Care Dealer in Decatur, AL. Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram for more helpful information regarding your HVAC system.