Gardening School : Review

I started out this blog to help those who want to begin gardening but don’t know where to start or feel overwhelmed with all the information out there. I was exactly that same way and had a hard time sifting through websites, book, and Pinterest to find what I wanted to know in a way that made sense. That’s how Gardening School came to be and this post is a review of the basics of gardening.

Hopefully this site has made things easier to learn and sparked a desire to get gardening. It truly brings me joy being outside in my yard and garden and watching things grow and change with the seasons. I hope it can do the same for you.

Here are the basics for Gardening School a Review

The Very Basics of Gardening

• Sun
  • BLOG POST : Plants can’t live without sun (except for deep sea algae I guess). Remember that certain plants like different amounts of sunlight. Some want full direct sun for most of the day and others prefer shade all day long. Then there’s those in betweeners that like a little of both.
• Water
  • BLOG POST : Water is also a pretty big necessity for plants to live their best lives. It’s important to make sure your plants are getting enough water but not sitting in it all day. Drainage is KEY. The time of day that you water matters and so does the technique (water the roots not the leaves). Consistency with your watering will make a big difference in the health of your plants.
• Soil
  • BLOG POST : The science of soil always made me a little nervous when I was just beginning my gardening journey. Now I think of it as a recipe where I can add things to make it better. Remember there are different kinds of soil (clay, loam, silt, sand) which plays into how well they hold water. PH is also important to plants but there are amendments you can add to adjust it as needed.
• Temperature (Growing Zones)
  • BLOG POST : Finding your growing zone is the first step in gardening. Without this information, you’ll be less successful at planting veggies and flowers that will thrive in your area. If you’re in a climate that is hot, cooler loving plants won’t do well for you and vice versa. You should know this number and letter like it’s your birthday. I’m in 7a for reference.

Other Important Things to Know

• Frost
  • BLOG POST : Know your first frost date and how to protect your plants from frost. This will extend the life of your plants as long as you can. Frost is also part of knowing your Growing Zone.
• Compost
  • BLOG POST : Black gold is another name for compost. It’s valuable for amending your soil to give it the nutrients it needs to help your plants thrive. This post will tell you what it is, how to make it and how to use it.
• Bulbs
  • BLOG POST : Bulbs are basically a kind of root where the plant gets energy to grow. There are other kinds of roots that we’ll go into later but bulbs are a basic to know about. They’re easy to plant and grow and are great for beginners.
• Annuals and Perennials
  • BLOG POST : This goes over the life cycle of a plant and why that’s important to you as a gardener. Some plants will come back year after year and others will only last one growing season. This is a basic principle of gardening that will help you grow what you want.

There are so many other things to know when gardening but I believe that with these basics, you can start growing plants in no time. If you haven’t yet, buy some bulbs (it’s November) and plant them or maybe even a tree or shrub. Now is the perfect time to get started without it being too overwhelming thinking there is too much to know and do. Start small. You’ve got this!