Gardening is like every new skill. When you are starting from scratch, you have the feeling that everything is overwhelming. Don’t give up, and we will sum up in one place the best gardening and home improvement tools tips for beginners.
We know that it is not easy to incorporate new ideas and put them into practice when you already have a full schedule. Of course, it requires some time management skills. Our suggestion for the beginning is that you decrease or, at least limit, the time you spend on social media. It is good to remember that social network addiction has been classified as a new clinical disorder. It is perfectly reasonable that most people see it as a tool to unwind. Still, we want to remind you that there are many other, healthier ways to achieve the same effect. Gardening is definitely one of them.
We want to list all the benefits of gardening to increase your motivation so you can quickly dive into your new adventure.
Mental Health Benefits of Gardening
Science has already proved that gardening is beneficial for mental health and that it can reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety. Twenty-two pieces of research from different parts of the world show similar results. If you are living in the city, the only possibility for you might be to join some of the communal gardens. In this case, you will also be pleased because the sense of belonging and doing something together will improve your mood.
Physical Health Benefits of Gardening
Different physical conditions can be improved if you are gardening daily. It can be prevention for so-called modern life diseases like diabetes and obesity. Still not convinced? Maybe you will be interested to know that fruits and vegetables that you grow by yourself are way richer in nutrients and healthier.
1. Choose Your Favorite Type of Gardening
Different types of gardening depend on the plants you want to grow. For beginners, we recommend herbal or flower annuals gardens. It is easier to start from a simple and then move to more complicated things. We prefer herbal ones because they don’t require a lot of space. You can even plant the herbs in egg cartons. When you become more confident in gardening, you should consider companion planting, which shows impressive results.
2. Test the Soil
With a soil testing kit, it is easy now to find out the pH value of the soil in your garden. Acidic soils with pH below 7 need more fertilizers, and you will have to find a way to improve the quality of the ground. Compost is a natural way to ensure better soil for your plants. Earthworms are tremendously important because they break down the leaves, grass, and other organic matter into things your plants can use to grow correctly. There are ways to inhabit the soil with earthworms, but you can also buy them in gardening stores.
3. Diary for Planting
Proper planning is crucial for every gardener because each plant has a precise time for planting, growing, and harvest. Figure out what climate zone you belong to because this can be important to determine the right time for planting. Except for notes, it’s recommended to have a scheme for your garden. It’s not only because of measuring but also because it’s not good to keep the same plants in the same part of the garden.
4. Must-Have Tools
You will need small hand garden tools for working in the yard, such as a garden spade, rake, and shovel. For sensitive skin, we suggest gardening gloves. And, of course, if you plan to have a herb garden, garden shears are an indispensable thing.
5. Choose Containers
Before gardening, you should decide which containers you will use for your plants. They are not only suitable for decoration, but the mobility of plants can be of great importance when you want to avoid extreme temperatures like frost, for example.
When choosing the container, you have to consider the place where you will keep your plants. If you have in mind an indoor herbal garden, you can be creative and even choose eggshells as containers. Seed starter trays can also be suitable for indoor gardening. There are many fantastic ideas for outdoor gardens as well, like painted old tires.
6. Adequate Watering
Be sure that you read how much water your plant requires. For example, cucumbers need a lot of it, or they can turn out bitter. Still, potato and garlic prefer dry surroundings, and overwatering can make them rot. You can find these and many other details in specialized guides on gardening for beginners.
7. Learn to Mulch
Mulching becomes an essential part of gardening for beginners. In short, mulching prevents water evaporation. If you put organic residue (straw, grass clipping, leaves) around the plants, the soil will retain the moisture even days after the rain. The estimations are that with mulching, only ten percent of water evaporates. With global warming, mulching will become a necessity, so it’s good to know more about it.
Conclusion
Gardening is a super creative and inspiring activity. Moreover, it has plenty of healing effects on both body and mind. There is no reason to procrastinate! Make a decision and start gardening with homemakerguide.com as soon as possible. Now you know that it is simple, grab the tools and start digging!