The house you purchase may come with a side patch of land, one that left unattended will play nursery to weeds and maybe grass if you are lucky. But with a bit of green touch, a house owner can work up a bounty that is aesthetically pleasing and rewarding at the same time. With dedication and a little grit, the land shall provide. Here are some tips to start that shovelling:
1/ Start at “easy” difficulty
Gardening is easy if you start small, and one sure way to get yourself into the habit is by growing plants that will reward your efforts. Onions, carrots, tomatoes and pepper bells are really simple to grow.
They require little maintenance, flourishing under a simple combination of sun and water. The fruiting ones also bear colourful bounties that are sure to make your garden look merrier. Not only that, they bless your kitchen with ingredients for your cooking. Bonus points come in the form of knowing that your homegrown plants are free from pesticides. Those interested in flowers can try their hands on some hardy varieties such as sunflower, sweet pea, marigold and pansies.
2/ No, you don’t need a chiropractor.
Unless you’re dealing with the small ones, the large terracotta pots may look intimidating in size and weight. And it isn’t easy to carry them around the garden too, especially when it is filled with soil, plus the plant.
But all that weight can be unnecessary. Instead of packing the pot with earth, fill it half-full with foam packing peanuts at the bottom. Not only do they make the pots lighter, but the foams also provide space for drainage to occur.
You can also fashion lightweight pots out of recycled materials such as empty toilet rows or milk cans. For the toilet row, simply press the bottom down to allow it to hold soil in. With the milk cans, you can use a pointed object to plunge holes into the bottom, and it is good to go.
3/ Love them the right way
Overenthusiastic newbies may feel the need to bathe their new plants with water and love, although they may inadvertently kill it instead. Yellow leaves exhibited by your plant usually signify that it has too much water. Also, avoid watering your plant from the top-down as wet leaves may lead to moulding and rot. Most plants do well on moist soil, so it is unnecessary to create a flood.
4/ DIY flower pots
The pot that holds your plant can make a statement, especially when it is nicely decorated. A good coat of paint over the pot will go a long way, and you can take it further by getting in some decorative motives. If you are not into the artistic flair, then a simple twine will do the trick. Wrap it around the pot to pull off a rustic look. Let your creativity run wild.
No space for a garden? No problem. Check out our house plant guide on how to choose the right leafy friend to live alongside you.
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