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Starting Your Outdoor Garden
Tips And Tricks For Outdoor Gardening
Growing your own plants outdoors can be an incredibly rewarding experience. However, the challenges that await can be quite formidable. For those who are attempting this project for the first time, you must accept the fact that this will be a learning experience. Of course, the advantage that you have rests with the fact that there is a bounty of helpful online information.
In the past, you would need to know an experienced gardener in order to assist your first foray into out door gardening. Or, you would have to gather up a number of books on the subject. This is no longer the case, since the advent of the Internet. Nowadays, the needed information is at your fingertips. However, there is still a huge advantage to be gained from consulting experienced gardeners in your area.
In this article, we’ll cover a number of the basics that will get you started in the successful cultivation of your plants. So, let’s begin.
Take heed of the local weather
Climate is, of course, a major factor when it comes to cultivating plants. Before you begin doing anything regarding your garden – do the necessary climate research. It’s also suggested that you plant crops that are relatively adaptable to different types of weather. Needless to say though, if you live in the arctic, you’ll be doing your growing indoors. But let’s assume that you live in an area that’s conducive to outdoor growing.
Even if your choice of plants is adaptable to different weather conditions, it can still be negatively affected by extreme weather conditions. Continuous temperatures above 32°C and below 13°C can cause major damage (or even death) to your crops. Other factors that cause problems include; heavy rainfall and high winds. This means that you will need to understand the best and worst times to be involved in outdoor gardening in your area. You will also need to take the number of hours of daylight into consideration. Fortunately, all of this information may be obtained from your local online weather sites.
Determine a good location
Next to setting up your seasonal planting schedule, determining a location will be an exceptionally important decision. Many growers choose to plant their crops in large containers that can be relocated according to various sunlight requirements. Others will need to select the best location for planting in the ground. All-in-all, you’ll want to ensure that your plants have a minimum of 5-7 hours of sunlight each day.
For those who live in warmer climates, you will want to select a location that allows for direct sunlight during the early, cooler parts of the day. During the hottest times of the day, you will want to have your plants receiving sunlight that is filtered rather than direct. In addition, you will want to select an area that is protected from high winds. An area that allows for a moderately cool breeze is ideal. For cooler climates, you will want to plant near an area in which a structure will retain heat – such as a brick wall or garage with a cement foundation.
Also, you will want to consider your security and privacy. For example, you may be growing herbs for your culinary needs. But you don’t want to discover that you have neighbors who prefer to raid your garden rather than secure their herbs in a more honest fashion! You have a number of options when it comes to securing your garden and also keeping it from view. You can get very creative with gardens and security - have a quick google for stealth gardens and you'll find a ton of idea's you can implement.
Soil considerations
You will also want to ensure that your plants have the right soil type that they’ll need in order to thrive. Some folks are fortunate enough to live in a location with excellent soil conditions. Others, less so. In any case, your goal should be to have a soil base that is; rich in organic material, drains well and has a pH that is slightly acidic. Therefore, you need to determine the type of soil that your location has and make the appropriate adjustments. This may include mixing in large quantities of other soil types along with the appropriate fertilizer prior to planting. Fortunately, you can take a sample of your soil and have it tested for a very reasonable price. This choice is highly suggested.
Your plants will most likely require a large quantity of food in order to grow and have a bountiful harvest. The food that you will need, will come in the form of fertilizer that is rich in; potassium, phosphorus and nitrogen. Fortunately, there are many highly rated fertilizers that you can purchase online or at your local nursery. For the best results, have your soil tested (as mentioned earlier) and contact a reputable fertilizer manufacturer and/or growing professional. These resources can direct you to the type of fertilizer that is best-suited for your particular growing needs.
Crop watering
Growing your plants in an outdoor environment will have the advantages of groundwater and rainwater supplies. However, don’t make the mistake of thinking that will be enough. Frequent plant watering will be required, in keeping with your particular growing environment. Also, you may need to assist the water retention. This can be done with the addition of water-retaining crystals or placing rocks and clay soil underneath your planting holes. In any case, just remember that some adult plants may use over 38 liters of water per day!
For those who are located in a very rainy environment, drainage will become a major factor. Without proper drainage, your plants will become susceptible to fungal infections at the roots. Some suggestions include; ditch digging in order to drain excess water, using raised mounds for planting and the addition of clay pebbles to your soil.
Finally, it’s also very important to have your groundwater and rainwater tested. That’s because these sources of water can contain dissolved minerals (or chlorine) that will influence the pH of the water. Having these minerals build up can either damage your plants or kill the helpful life that exists in your soil.
Conclusion
As stated earlier, your biggest advantage when it comes to outdoor growing is the fact that you have readily available information on the Internet. When you combine that with the ability to contact experienced growers and product manufacturers, you should have an enjoyable and productive experience when starting and maintaining your own outdoor garden.
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