Sometimes the thought of starting your own garden can seem overwhelming, especially if you have never cared for a garden before. While the task may seem daunting, it turns out that starting a garden isn’t as hard as you might think. Growing your own produce is very rewarding, saves you money, and brightens up your plate at mealtime. Our experts at Martin’s Home & Garden are always available to answer any questions and offer tips on how to begin your first home garden.
1. Plant in a Raised Garden Bed
Planting in a raised garden bed has many benefits to the gardener and the plants. A garden bed makes it easier for you to control pests, the soil quality, weeds and lengthens growing time. While building a garden bed may seem like an inconvenient task, it’ll make your gardening experience more enjoyable versus planting in the ground. If you’re a first-time gardener, gardening in a raised gardening bed will make your chances of success higher, and the good news is that you can often build a garden bed in less than an hour.
2. Container Gardening
If planting in a gardening bed isn’t your style, then try container gardening. There are a lot of vegetables and crops that grow beautifully within containers. Container gardening still allows you to control pests, soil quality, weeds, and even temperature. The good thing about container gardening is that it’s perfect for any space. You can start a small garden with a few crops inside your home or apartment or plant a bigger one on the porch or patio.
3. Choose Easy Plants to Grow
Choosing plants that are easy to grow will help build your confidence as you are starting out. Martin’s Home & Garden has plenty of easy plants for you to choose from, and one of our skilled employees is always happy to help guide your selection or answer any questions. Crops such as tomatoes, sugar snap peas, lettuce, and squash are great for gardening beginners.
4. Try Planting with Starter Plants Versus Seeds
Starter plants have already begun their growing process, allowing you to see if the plant that is growing is a healthy one or not. If you’re new to gardening it’s easier to produce successful crops from starter plants instead of seeds. Martin’s Home & Garden has a wide variety of starter plants for you to choose from. All you have to do is select your plant, move it to your garden when the plant is ready, and continue to care for it as it grows.
5. Get a Soil Sample
If you do decide to start from scratch by planting with seeds, get a soil sample before you begin. The Rutherford County Extension Office, or your own local extension office, can test your soil by measuring the nutrients and quality of your soil. This will help ensure that your planting is successful and allows you to know what your soil may need for better success. A soil sample is especially important if you decide to plant in the ground. However, it may still be a good idea if you’re planting in a bed or container, especially if you’ve previously been unsuccessful in growing your plant’s past seedlings.
6. Watch Out for Pests
Pests are one of the most important things to look out for in your garden. Creatures such as snails, slugs, ants, and aphids are good things to watch out for. These pests will munch on your plants, ultimately killing them. Luckily, there are many ways to help keep pests at bay such as applying pepper spray to your plants. Read more in our blog about keeping bugs out of houseplants!
Visit Martin’s Home & Garden For Your Gardening Needs!
Visit our nursery in Murfreesboro at Martin’s Home & Garden today to shop for your new garden! Read our FAQ for more information and for guidance on what kind of plants may be right for you and your garden! If you need help with a sick plant, bring our team a high-quality picture or a sick leaf. Please do not bring your entire plant to the store to avoid spreading the disease to the plants in our stock.
