Tehama Country Real Estate

Gardening is a rewarding hobby that many enthusiasts credit with helping them to peaceful- ly escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. ough gardening can be both relaxing and rewarding, it's not as easy as it may seem, and the more time and effort a person devotes to his or her garden the more likely it is to be successful. Gardening can be a little daunting for beginners who have little or no experience planting flowers or vegetables. But gardening need not be so intim - idating, especially for those beginners who adhere to the following tips aimed at helping novice gar- deners start their gardens off on the right foot. • Determine what you should plant. Where you live will go a long way toward determining what you should plant. While you can plant anything you can get your hands on, the United States De - partment of Agriculture as well as Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada have determined specific plant hardiness zones that indicate which plants are most likely to thrive in given locations. Maps of these zones can be found at www.usda.gov and www.agr.gc.ca. By adhering to the maps, gardeners can significantly increase their chances of growing successful gardens. When in doubt about what to plant, consult a local gardening center or seek ad - vice from a professional landscaper. • ink location when beginning your garden. Beginners with large yards have the luxury of choosing the right location on their properties to start planting. When choosing a spot, consider how much sunlight a location gets on a daily basis and the spot's proximity to a water supply. If plant - ing flowers, try to avoid planting in areas with heavy foot traffic so the flowers are less likely to be stomped. If you're planting flowers to accent walk- ways, then consider erecting a barrier around the flower bed to safeguard the flowers from foot traffic. • Get started before you plant. Preparing the soil a few weeks before you start planting can help the plants thrive down the road. Add some organic material, such as compost or fertilizer, to the soil roughly three weeks before planting. is helps the soil retain water and nutrients, which will help your garden thrive. • Time your planting. When you plant is some- times as important as what you plant. Some cli- mates allow for year-round planting, but many do not. When buying seeds, the packaging might suggest what time of year to plant the seeds. Ad- here to these suggestions or your garden might not grow much at all. In addition, keep in mind that many seedlings need significant light throughout the day in order to grow, so choose a time of year with ample daylight. • Don't forget to mulch. Mulch can be as aestheti- cally appealing as it is effective. Mulch retains soil, helping roots to grow stronger, while deterring bugs and preventing weed growth. And many gar- deners find mulch adds visual appeal their garden, and does so in a very inexpensive way. • Clean your tools. Beginners rarely recognize the importance of cleaning gardening tools before putting them away. At the end of each gardening session, clean your tools thoroughly, as soil le on your garden tools can play host to potentially harmful microbes that might kill your plants. Gardening can be a labor-intensive yet gratifying hobby. By sticking to a few simple rules, beginners can develop a thriving garden to reward all of that hard work. G A R D E N Fo r B e g i n n e r s HOW TO

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