Tips and tricks for even the most unlikely gardeners.

A32

Erin Maloney-Chumney

Stumble Upon

del.icio.us

Digg

Facebook

Print

Email

Speak Up

Spring has sprung, the grass has ris', I wonder where the flowers is!

We are now in the midst of gardening season and the garden centers are in full swing for the next couple of weeks. For some of us, even the thought of a hanging basket full of annuals can be daunting. But having a basic garden, no matter where you live or what your space limitations are, can be achieved quite easily if you follow these few tips.

Location, location, location!

This doesn't only go for real estate. The location of your potential plant paradise will have a large impact on your success rate. The location that you choose for your garden will determine the types of plants that you should include in the mix, as well as have an impact on the maintenance that is required for upkeep.

Do you find yourself struggling every year with that hanging basket full of wave petunias out on your balcony, and they just don't seem to stay in bloom?

A shady balcony with little direct sun throughout the day would be a poor place for petunias, pansies and violas, which all need full sun to thrive. While annuals are an easy way to give your home curb appeal, make sure you choose the right variety for the location you plan on using.

Information Overload

Once you've chosen your location "" the balcony on your apartment or your back deck "" you need to evaluate what type of exposure is prevalent. Is it only sunny after lunch? Will this flower bed be under the shade of trees for most of the day? Does your balcony get Southern exposure or lots of sunshine all day?

There are many resources out there in regards to planting. The gardening magazines, the internet, and local retailers can all give you advice on what to plant. With all of the information at your fingertips, it can be even more confusing than the little cards stuck in those four packs of annuals at the supermarket.

Trial and error is one way that many gardeners figure out what works for them, and their property. But to save yourself some time and money, if possible try doing some research before you spend a ton of money on plants that may not be very well suited to the location you've chosen.

Easy as pie, for that guy!

It always seems like everyone else can create a beautiful landscape of hostas and flower beds, but why do we always seem to fail?

A couple things to remember; if you're envious of the gorgeous flower beds across the street from your barren lawn, don't be afraid to ask for help. Many gardeners love to teach and share their perennials with a potential green thumb. And with perennials, once established they pretty well take care of themselves. A little water and weeding will serve you well for years to come.

Potted planters that can be brought inside for the winter can also add some greenery to your deck or balcony. Beautiful banana plants will thrive on a couple months outside in the warmth of the summer months as well as improve indoor air quality from September through May.

Bulbs are often overlooked for the container gardener, but they can be an easy way to add some colour to your outdoor living space, without relying on annuals if you want to kick it up a notch. Or if you want to get something edible out of your investment, tomato plants are an easy container plant that will provide greenery and a delicious edition to your container garden.

This that and the other thing"¦

A few things should be mentioned if you'd like to be successful with your garden.

Water is important, but as we all know it is possible to kill your plants with kindness. Once you've chosen your plants and your location, be aware of the needs of each plant. This goes hand in hand with the varieties of plants you've chosen. Sunny areas often require more frequent watering, while shaded varieties may only need H2O every second or third day.

Weeds can be a gardeners worst nightmare. But if you decide on a container garden this will can be avoided. For larger areas, invest in a couple bags of mulch to help keep moisture in the soil and weeds out. Of course, the fewer weeds you have competing with your plants the better off your garden will be.

You know the old saying, "Quitters never win", well this applies to gardening. If you've failed with one type of plant in the past, assess what could be changed and try something new. Eventually you'll find your green thumb, and once you've established a method that gives you success with one variety of plant, you can always move out of your comfort zone and expand your gardening skills with another species.

No gardener was made over night, but start small and soon you'll be stopping to smell the roses.