If you do not own a pair of gardening gloves or know the difference between annuals and perennials, you still have a chance to green your thumb. Purchase a few basic lawn and garden supplies, such as a trowel and a pair of durable gloves, and read the following tips for beginning your garden to get it off to a healthy start.

How to Start Your First Garden

1. Location

When looking where to plant your garden, choose a space that your hose can reach. Having to carry a bucket or watering can back and forth from your hose to your garden will create an unnecessary nuisance. Also, study the amount of sun that your space gets throughout the day. Make sure to choose plants that thrive with that much direct sunlight. 

2. Soil

Bad soil will prohibit your garden from growing. Take a soil test and figure out what type you have and what you need to do to make nutrient-rich, well-draining soil. You can also add 2-3 inches of mulch around each plant to protect the soil from weeds and reduce moisture loss from the sun’s evaporation.

3. Pruning

When cutting back your garden, use sharp gardening shears or scissors. Do not pull stems off yourself. Trim back the dead blooms, cutting where you still see green. Cutting between two sets of leaves will encourage your plants to grow and send out more leaves and blooms. 

4. Water

Choosing which time to water can increase your plants’ ability to thrive. Try to water in the morning, giving each plant about two inches of water. If you water later in the day, the sun has a greater chance of evaporating the plants’ water.

To see if your plant needs more water, poke your finger into the plants’ soil. If it is dry, your plant is thirsty. If it is still wet, hold off on watering. It can be just as easy to overwater as it is to underwater your garden.

5. Containers

If you want to grow your garden and do not have that much space, containers can help. It also may be beneficial to start your plants in pots, just make sure the pot is big enough to prompt growth. Seed starter trays can also make it easy for you to encourage your seedlings to grow and thrive before transferring them into the soil.

If you’re looking for help beginning your garden, turn to Bolivar Farmers Exchange in Polk County, MO. They’ll help you determine which products are most suitable for your space and provide you with the right lawn and garden supplies. They’ve been the go-to source for affordable fertilizing supplies since opening in 1920. Call (417) 326-2664 to inquire about the current inventory or visit their website to learn more about the services they offer.