The benefits of gardening in your landscape are already widely known but taking on that task leaves many aspiring gardeners frustrated and ready to give up. The myth of successful gardening is you have to be born with a green thumb. Truthfully, all you need is a little knowledge of what your plants need to thrive and how to ensure they get it.
NUTRIENTS
All living things need basic nutrients to sustain life. Plants obtain nutrients in a variety of complicated ways. To simplify, what you need to know about this process is plant roots absorb nutrients through the soil. These nutrients must be replenished so your landscape continues to thrive. The cheapest and easiest way to replenish nutrients in the soil is to use your own compost. Grass clippings, trimmings from trees or shrubs and expired fruit or vegetables are just a few examples of what you can compost. Most nurseries and garden centers will supply different types of compost in bags and sometimes bulk. Another way to replenish nutrients is by using chemical fertilizers. The most efficient fertilizers on the market now are a controlled release. Heat breaks down the fertilizer prill one coat a time while water delivers the nutrients into the soil. Using a controlled release fertilizer will ensure your plants have the nutrients they need over an extended period of time. Non controlled release fertilizers should not be used around the home as they are only immediately available to the plant and are susceptible to runoff resulting in contamination of surrounding water supplies.
WATER
Over watering is one of the most common mistakes made in the home landscape. With the popularity of home irrigation systems watering daily seems like a great approach to ensure your plants will survive, however, frequent, low volume watering results in a poor root system. If your landscape is being watered every day, the root system has no incentive to expand deep in the soil in search of water. Watering less frequently and with more volume will ensure your root system is larger and deeper, meaning more available water, more available nutrients and less dependency on you.
PESTICIDES
All gardeners have experienced at some point, one plant that is suddenly covered with bugs or some type of fungus that is obviously killing it. Before you start cutting branches and running to your local garden center to find out what miracle cure they have for it remember this, death is a part of nature. This plant is sick but not because it is infested with bugs but because it is not getting something it needs to survive. The pests are there because they are drawn to plants that are under stress, it is their job in nature to take out these sick plants. That should help explain why if you have planted 10 of the same plants, only one is infested. So, what is the best course of action to take? Replace it. A plant that has been under stress will never reach its full potential. If you are giving your plants what they need, they will fight off pests on their own. Chemical pesticides on your landscape are doing more harm than good. Stop using them and save yourself money.
Home gardening is a growing trend as more citizens want to do their part for our environment. Don’t be discouraged. Follow these tips and soon you’ll be the envy of your neighborhood.