Gardening is such a great hobby because it can be taken up by anyone. Of course, there are people who are better at it than others. This comes only after years spent in and around the garden. During this time, they have picked up numerous tricks that they now use to make the job easier. These green thumbs are usually reluctant to reveal their secrets, but we have prepared 5 of them to help gardening rookies.

Research

Even before you start gardening, you have to know and be aware of all the relevant factors. Nobody just starts gardening in any plot, in any climate, at any given time. Real green thumbs know well enough that preparation is important. Firstly, check which species will grow best in the terrain and climate you intend to plant them. Then, see if the plot is tilted and which side of the world it faces. Whether it is the north side or the south side, will have an effect on the amount of sunlight it gets. For every plant species you introduce be sure to check how much water and sun it requires. Googling can prove to be useful here. Soil composition is also important, but more on that later. Finally, estimate if your garden is going to need fencing off. If the answer is affirmative, look into the types of fencing available. White picket fences are aesthetically most appealing, but thoroughly research if they will provide enough protection for your garden in particular.

Make your own compost

The proper way of using compost can be tricky for new gardeners. Even harder is making your own compost, but this method has numerous benefits in the long fun. In the beginning, just a bucket of compost will more than suffice. There is no need to build those huge wooden crates that you see on bigger estates. They probably have animals such as horses, so they use large quantities of compost. For your garden, just a couple of layers of earth and organic debris will do. Wood chips, dry leaves, and food leftovers are enough for a good compost to form. The latter will serve a better purpose as nutrients for your flowers rather taking space at the local landfill. Another upside is that the compost you make will be more cost-effective than the one purchased from the store, and what is more important, you’ll know it is 100% organic. These are all reasons not to shy away from making your own compost.

The importance of soil

We already mentioned that it is important to know the exact soil composition. The reason for this is that you’ll know precisely which plant species will grow best. There is no point in planting a palm tree if you live in Finland, is there? In most cases, you will have to add hummus to your soil, even if it’s of formidable quality. Just as in humans good health is necessary for all other activities, you want your soil to be as healthy as possible. Seeds will have an easier time growing in ideal conditions so most crops will thrive in your garden. This ought to be the goal of every committed gardener. Also, be sure to have the right tools to manipulate the soil. If it has a high clay content, then you will most certainly need a garden fork to break it up to prepare the hole for seeds. Having the right tool for the job also eases the aforementioned hummus enrichment.

It is OK to make mistakes

Just like in any other activity you undertake, you can make mistakes in gardening as well. However, there are nothing to be ashamed about, since you are still learning. Actually, this might be the best well-kept secret of green thumbs. Mistakes will happen, so why not embrace them. Things are not going to go as planned and you have to be ready for it. For instance, you might plant a species that is unsuitable for the climate and it will die after a couple of weeks or the seed won’t even reach the light of the day. All you can do after such a blunder is to memorize the breed and never plant it again. Also, a common mistake is that you make a wrong overlay of the entire garden, not leaving enough room for pathways. Some plants will, unfortunately, have to get trampled upon for you to learn to include them in the next season’s plan.

Ask for advice

Although gardening is a singles game, communicate with other gardeners. Their experience will prove valuable and if they are willing to share it with you, never say no. You can seek advice from professional gardeners, your neighbor who is a green thumb, or even the staff at the local garden center. Googling is also a recommendable solution to problems that might come along.

Remember that gardening is an activity to be enjoyed in. That’s why you should use these 5 tips in order to become a green thumb yourself one day.