How to Start a Vegetable Garden?
Not only does a vegetable garden look great, but it can also be continuously rewarding throughout the year depending on what type of seeds you plant. If you’ve never tasted garden-grown vegetables, you’ll be amazed by the vibrant and juicy vegetables that can easily be grown in your own backyard.
While it may seem overwhelming, knowing how to design a garden, when to start a garden, and which vegetables to grow are the basics to getting a vegetable garden up and running. Keep reading to learn more about how to establish your very own vegetable garden that you can enjoy for years to come!
How to Design a Garden
Picking your vegetable garden location is perhaps the most important factor when learning how to plant a vegetable garden. Here are a few factors to keep in mind when choosing the perfect spot to build your vegetable garden:
- Sunlight: Vegetables need 6-8 hours of direct sunlight a day to grow properly.
- Soil drainage: If your soil doesn’t drain particularly well, you’ll want to learn how to make raised garden beds or buy some pre-made ones. This ensures the roots of your veggies aren’t continuously soaked which leads to rot.
- Healthy soil: The soil you plant your vegetables in feeds them. If necessary, add plant food or other organic matter to give your veggies lots of nutrients to grow.
- Sheltered from the wind: Strong winds can prevent pollinators from doing their job and destroy young plants.
When to Plant a Garden
You can start a vegetable garden whenever you like but the most ideal time is either in the spring or the fall. When learning how to start a vegetable garden from scratch, it’s best to begin small and work on one area at a time. Dig through your soil to remove any weeds or stones and then rake it so it’s easy to manage.
Garden Pests
Unfortunately, as much as you love your vegetable garden, so do various other creatures and critters. You may be wondering how to keep animals out of your garden, how to get rid of garden snakes, or how to get rid of slugs in your garden. Below we’ll cover some common veggie garden pest solutions:
- Slugs: Create barriers around your plants. Eggshells or coffee to discourage slugs from munching all your vegetables.
- Animals: Rabbits and pigeons are notorious for destroying gardens. You can try growing plants that rabbits don’t enjoy such as like onions, peppers, and tomatoes; or herbs including basil and oregano.
- Garden snakes: Snakes like to hide, so remove any overgrown vegetation or dead leaves often. Removing any overflowing water sources can also discourage them from entering your garden.
If you’re new to the gardening world and want expert advice on how to start a garden, how to design a garden, or anything in-between, contact the professionals at Cutters Edge. Call them today to discuss how they can help you achieve your garden or landscaping dreams!
