Nature

7 Tips for Your Best Spring Garden Ever

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Tony Maples Photography

 

Whether you have a green thumb or are “green” to the whole planting process, anyone can grow a beautiful spring garden. Here are some tips to set you up for success.

1. Make sure you’re planting the right seeds for where you live.

seeds spring garden

Photo: modernfarmer.com

You may love the idea of planting a peach tree or growing your own bouquet of lilies, but not every climate is right for harvesting every type of plant. To combat this, the USDA has divided the country into “plant hardiness zones.” Enter your zip code to find which zone you live in, and make sure any plants in your garden are approved for that zone. 

2. Plant at the right time.

Gardener with Wooden Seedling Tray

Photo: www.hijiarchitect.com

When you start planting may be just as important as what you’re planting. If you’re sowing vegetables, check out this site that has a guide to the best seeds to plant each month. SFGate.com offers the same information for those who are focusing on more floral gardens.

3. Put used coffee grounds to work in your soil.

coffee grounds

Photo: farmersalmanac.com

Instead of throwing away your used coffee grounds from your morning cup of joe, mix them in the soil of acid-loving plants. According to the team at HGTV, Flowers like azaleas, gardenias and rhododendrons do very well in a more acidic environment, and even blueberries can benefit from an acidic pH. Just sprinkle about a quarter of an inch of the grounds on your plants once a month.

4. Use a bar of soap to keep your nails clean.

scraping nails on bar of soap

Photo: www.thriftyfun.com

After a long day working in your garden, it can often be hard to clean off all that dirt, especially under your fingernails! Try this genius hack from HGTV: Scrape your nails across a bar of soap before you start gardening, and you’ll create a seal under your nails to prevent dirt from collecting there. When you’re finished, just wash your hands or scrub them with a nailbrush, and your nails will be good as new.

5. Diapers aren’t just for babies!

Diapers used in Gardening

Photo: instructables.com, via The King of Random

Your baby might be too young to help out in the garden, but their diapers sure can. Since diapers are designed to retain moisture, you can place one in the bottom of a potted plant to help keep the moisture in longer! The team at Listotic says this is a perfect solution for summer plants that require daily watering.

6. Water plants with excess from steamed vegetables.

steamed veggies

Photo: www.tablespoon.com

The next time you’re steaming vegetables, don’t dump the water down the drain. Instead, use it to water your potted plants or your garden. The nutrients from the vegetables will give the plants an added boost. Of course, make sure the water has cooled first! Thanks to Ann’s Entitled Life for this awesome tip.

7. Article point 7, make sure to bold

Indoor Garden

Photo: www.brit.co

Not everyone has access to spacious yards or tillable soil. If your green thumb is pinned down by where you live, don’t give up hope! You can still plant a beautiful herb garden using Mason jars. There are plenty of examples on Pinterest, but this one from blogger Averie Lane is our favorite for its sweet chalkboard signs and simple design.