1. First things first - soil.
You have heard me before about how important this is for your garden to
thrive. Plants need healthy soil in the right places. Use a hoe or
spade to turn your soil often. This also helps keep the weeds down.
One of my all time favorite garden tools is the scuffle (hula) hoe. It
turns the soil easily and makes it so easy to weed after turning the
soil. Harder soils, like clay, need amending every two to three years.
2. For clay soils, consider topping up with an organic compost to keep the soil lose and at its peak for a longer period. Use quality or locally purchased compost to top up your soil.
3. Like a chef values a great kitchen tools, for gardeners, there is no substitute for the best garden tools. My favorite tools are quality pruning shears, spades and the scuffle (hula) hoe to keep my garden beautiful and healthy.
4. Plants can’t survive without moisture. Most plants are made up of over 90% water so it’s essential to keep them hydrated. Water plants early in the morning when the weather is cooler so less water is lost through evaporation. Check your sprinklers on a monthly basis for problems.
5. For those with less time for daily watering of container plants consider cymbidiums, ferns, geraniums and succulents that can retain moisture longer and require less watering and more tolerant when neglected.
6. When planting any shrub, fruit, vegetable or bulb, make sure there is enough space for growth. Each plant will need moisture, sunlight and nutrients from the soil, so be sure reduce competition and make sure each plant has its adequate room for free flowing air circulation and essentials.
7. Growing or want to grow vegetables in your garden? Here too, soil and space are important but most vegetables also need to bask in direct sunlight. It’s also important to keep them clipped and watered.
8. Weeds can be the nemisis of any garden. Be vigilant in weeding and for stubborn weeds especially in your grass tackle it with chemicals. Weed often this spring about weeding and your garden will reap the benefits the rest of the year.
9. Mulch is great for maintaining healthy soils, keeping them cool and pleasing to the eye, but mulch is also good for suppressing weeds.
10. Is your garden being taken over by unsightly slugs & snails? First thing in the morning is a good time to catch them in action and dispose of them. Bet you never thought beer could beat slugs. Keep a container filled with it and let your soil drink up the beer overnight. The slugs will be attracted to the scent and you’ll notice the container full of them in the morning. Offer them beer each night until the little creatures have disappeared.
