Tools I use & Tips too
Scott’s
Scott’s Lawn Care products rule! Can’t say enough about their variety of products & the wealth of information I’ve found while learning to garden.
Local Plants
Check what grows naturally in your area and go with plants and flowers that match the local foliage. If the local plants & flowers have thick leaves that are best for holding up in harsher conditions & able to hold water & withstand high heat, a delicate plant with thin leaves & flowers will quickly wilt.
Sunshine
Sunshine, like water is critical to life of your foliage….but like water, too much & you’ll burn your plants or flowers.
Clippings or Seeds
To clip or seed….very personal…just kidding, it’s actually more about how much time you’re willing to commit before you’re looking to get a fully grown plant. While I’ve enjoyed starting with seeds & growing something fully myself, I also have taken shortcuts to get something going (especially basil which I love & can’t wait to add to any dish)>
Water, the stuff of life
It can also be the stuff of death for your plants, I tend to overwater so check the soil if in doubt before you just drown your plants & flowers. If it looks dry, water away! But never at the height of the heat of the day, early am or pm is best, lest you burn the very things you want to grow!
Bugs suck
And they’ll chomp your herbs happily if you don’t take of them. Various methods have proven effective from sprays to natural remedies such as spices like garlic or pepper.
Good Dirt
Good dirt matters more than you would think! Loam is the ideal topsoil for gardening….a mixture, mostly of sand (40%), silt (40%), and clay (20%), this allows for the soil to retain enough water & nutrients to nourish what you’re growing while allowing for some drainage. Before you go out & purchase soil, I suggest you try to work with what you have, test it & adjust it to achieve your ideal levels depending on what exactly you’re growing.
Pruning Tools
Just as your hairdresser cleans their tools, so should you clean your pruning shears & scissors. Otherwise you can add unwanted bacteria to your delicate plants & flowers.
Pruning
It’s important to remove the parts of your plants and flowers that have died or they’ll take down the areas around them. If it’s brown I’m cutting it down.