Preparing for Your First Spring Time Gardening

Spring Time Gardening

is one of the most fun and relaxing hobbies there is. It is also a very rewarding one. At the end of all the work, you are rewarded with wonderful blooms, delicious fruits and healthy produce. One of the best tips to be a good gardener is that you have to possess "patience". You should remember that the results are not instant. Most newbies just simply start planting and expect to see the results immediately. For newbies that do not know how to begin but would love to nurture their own garden, consider these few tips to help you:

Identify which plants will grow in your area. There are three basic factors to be considered before starting your spring time gardening: sunlight, soil composition and soil moisture. You can do something about the soil composition and soil moisture but not the sunlight. There are plants that require direct sun and there also plants that must be in full or partial shade.

Identify what type of soil you have. You cannot just simply plant without identifying the soil type you have in your area. Clay, silt and sand are the three basic type of soil. The ideal garden soil comprises of 40% silt, 40% sand, and 20% clay. There are several tests to determine what type of soil you have. The most common and easiest way is to get some samples in the area then squeeze it tightly to make a ball. When soil cannot hold its shape then it is too loose, meaning it is sandy. If it maintains its shape, try to break it by pressing your thumb into it. If it breaks easily then it's a good soil, if not the soil has too much clay.

Amend the soil. Adding organic matter is the best way to amend the soil. If the soil is sandy, add a mixture of compost and topsoil. If the soil has too much clay then add compost, peat moss and some sand.

Observe soil moisture. Soil moisture is influenced by the climate in your area. If you are living where there is hill nearby, then you can expect the soil in your area to stay wet for a longer period of time, due to drainage. Though you can make raised beds to adjust the moisture it is wiser to choose plants that grow best in wet soil. However, in dealing with dry plots, it is wiser to choose plants that grow in this kind of soil.

These are just a few tips to help you start with your spring time gardening. It should help you give a boost to that beautiful garden you want! For more information, you may visit my guides for more detailed instructions and tips on gardening.

Lisa Van Til is a dedicated gardener from Michigan. She enjoys gardening and exchanging tips and techniques with her fellow gardeners. She is a Bestselling Author on Amazon thanks to her series of Little Gardening Guides. For more information and samples of her guides, please visit http://www.lisavantil.com

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