5 Helpful Tips to Maintaining a Garden Bed

There is a wealth of reasons to consider starting a garden. From soaking up vitamin D to lowering depression rates, the garden truly 'grows' more than flowers and vegetables!

Gardening can be a wonderful hobby and one that reaps great rewards. But maintaining a garden takes commitment, time and knowledge, especially to see it flourish and grow.

Are you thinking about starting a garden but feeling a little overwhelmed at the thought? Or have you already started and are at a loss at how to keep it in great shape?

Here are some tips for garden bed maintenance!

1. Watering

Of course, watering regularly and well according to your plant's needs is one of the most important parts of keeping a garden healthy. For the plants to benefit from watering the most, water in the morning before the sun rises high and everything evaporates.

Make sure you understand how much water your plant needs so you don't succumb to overwatering. If you're away from home often, considering installing an irrigation system to take care of the watering for you.

2. Weeding

Even if you do your best by tending to your garden, weeds will still happen.

There are a few ways to combat weeds.

Make sure you pull out weeds from the root and not the stem. Removing the weed at the stem leaves the roots intact, allowing it to continue growing.

Consider using mulch to cover your garden to discourage weeds from growing, and if you can, keep plants nearby.

3. Stay Off the Soil

Walking on the soil means potentially damaging your plants, even by accident. Do your best to water and observe from a distance.

When you walk on the soil it becomes compressed. This packs the soil in tightly depriving it of essential oxygen the plant needs to grow.

4. Compost

While a garden functions fine using regular soil, if you want your garden to thrive, consider composting.

Composting is the act of combining dirt, air, water, and other food scraps to create a soil rich in nutrients. Compost is easy to get started, but they're a few things to remember.

You can only throw 'approved' items in the compost bin, such as grass, vegetable peels, paper, and leaves. Avoid any dairy or meat products as they can spoil the compost and attract animal life.

Plants can improve and grow well with added compost.

5. Pay Attention to The Weather

Even if you plant well after a frost, some parts of the world have varying degrees of weather. To protect your plants, watch the weather and be prepared to cover your plants if there's a particularly cold night. A little planning can save you a lot of trouble!

Maintaining A Garden Bed

Maintaining a garden takes hard work and dedication, but the results are often worth it when you build your first "homemade" salad or watch your plant bloom and colour your land. Keep these tips at the forefront of your mind and enjoy gardening!