A Basic Guide To Gardening

When starting your first garden, make sure you following these essential tips:

- Plan out your garden design

- Find a suitable environment

- Make sure you know what you're going to plant

- Make sure you have the time to manage your garden

- Ensure you monitor any pests, insects & diseases

- Don't be afraid to spend money on fertilizers and sprays

- Ensure there is enough water and sun all year around

The 'Yates Garden Guide 2011' is a must have for all gardening enthusiasts with useful garden tips, landscaping ideas, and a glossary covering a wide range of plants, pests and diseases.

When designing your garden, keep in mind that to make the most out of our garden, you will need to put in the time and effort. A neglected garden will yield minimal results. When digging your garden bed, ensure you use the correct fertilizers and plough the garden correctly. Organic fertilizers such as chicken, sheep and cow manure generally work best. If you're never used these fertilizers before, consult your local garden centre. Keep in mind that some fertilizers will take some time to be absorbed into the soil before planting can occur.

Plant your garden fruits and vegetables according to the weather season, cycles and climate ensuring you utilize the natural weather patterns as much as possible all year around. This will mean that some plants may need to be planted in advance. For example, if you're looking to grow cucumbers in the summer time, ensure your seeds are planted in Spring time. Although the weather may still be a bit cool in Spring, the seedling will still grow and the cucumber plant will flourish once the warmer weather arrives. Before planting, ensure you read your seed packet or consult your local garden nursery.

Once the growing phase has commenced, be sure to provide the necessary constant care for your plants, including watering, weeding, trimming, pest inspection & so forth. Also ensure that the plant has sufficient space to grow, both vertically and horizontally. A poor gardener is one who plants their seedlings with the expectation that the job is done and the plant & fruit will flourish while expecting that the plant will always have sufficient water and doesn't require any additional food or fertilizer.

One of the most important points ensuring that you include a range of different fruits and vegetables. Do not plant the same plants in the same soil one season after another. Each plant reaps different nutrients through the soil, therefore, it is important to ensure that you move your plants around each season to make the most out of the soil and it's nutrients. Try experimenting with different fruits and vegetables in different seasons by planting some fruits and vegetables which may seem harder to maintain than others. With more experience and care, you'll soon be able to plant anything you put your mind to with the right attention and

Ensure you give your plants the attention they deserve. Just like humans, they need food. Plants will generally require more than just sun and rain if you want them to flourish and produce a good harvest. Feed your plants with the right fertilizers designed for your fruit and vegetable plants. If you're unsure of what to use, read the labels of a range of different products or consult your local garden nursery.

When taking care of your plants, ensure you get rid of any bugs and insects which may be eating the fruit or leaves. A plant without leaves will eventually die and if you don't kill off harmful insects, they'll soon die. The most common are caterpillars, and if not prevented, can end up eating entire plants, leaving you with nothing but an empty vegetable patch.

During the cooler months of the year, most plants will struggle to flourish and bloom. A Way to prevent this is by ensuring your plants get the right treatment during the different seasons. During the cooler months of the year, protect your garden by covering it up with a greenhouse or shed, preventing any snow or frost from killing the leaves. During the warmer months, shade also helps to prevent the heat from drying up the soil and roots. Keep the soil moist all year around but not too soaked. Each plant will require different treatment, however, so long as the soil isn't bone dry or soaking wet, most plants will manage fine.