Susan’s Gardening Tips

Selecting the best garden location is critical to seniors

Once you have decided what kind of garden you want, there are many other factors to consider. Mainly you need to choose the right spot for your garden. This is usually decided by several factors: How much sun, shade, and water is required.

The garden location you choose needs to provide an ideal climate. Actually, if you take the time to study various spots around your property, you will likely find places that will cater to the needs of most plants. A hot, sunny spot will be perfect for specific varieties, while cool, partly shady spots and deep-shade areas are ideal for others. Amazingly, you will find several micro-climates all around your property.

Take a few days to observe your property. Take temperature readings in various spots, note how many hours of direct sunlight hits each one, check out the moisture levels. You will be absolutely amazed at the results, when plants don’t have to struggle to survive. Basically, the less stress on a plant, the more flowers and fruit it produces… and the healthier it is. This also translates into the need for less (if any) pesticides. Read the rest of this entry

A family flower garden...

One of the most important beginning gardening tools is information… such as deciding what kind of garden you want.

There are three key questions to consider in deciding what kind of garden is the right choice for you:

1. What purpose will the garden serve?

Curb Appeal… This type of garden is usually in the front of your property, easily visible to passersby (and your neighbors).

Cutting Flowers… This is often called a “cutting garden”, and is dedicated to plants that do well in flower arrangements indoors. The size of your lot, however, may dictate that you integrate them into the rest of your garden. It requires a bit more planning, but it can actually add variety.

Food… Vegetables and fruits and nuts can be in a dedicated area of your property, or (just like flowers) they can be integrated throughout. In fact, this is often the best way to take advantage of microclimates on your property that are advantageous to specific plants… flowers, shrubs, vegetables, or fruits. Read the rest of this entry