Get Growing Grow edible plants in your backyard or on a patio or windowsill Brighten up your home with a fabulous indoor garden Express your artistic flair with some creative gardening Build your own tiny world in a fanciful fairy garden It doesn’t matter what kind or size of garden you want to plant or where you grow it Gardening can be a fun and creative hobby for everyone The Basics Before you get started be sure you know what your garden needs and how to take care of it Plants need a few basic things to grow sunshine water and good soil Sunlight If you’re planting an outdoor garden choose your site carefully Make sure it gets plenty of light throughout the day For indoor gardens some plants need more light than others Research this before determining where to set your indoor garden Most indoor plants will do well near a bright sunny window Soil Potting soil is a must for container plants Soil from your yard will not allow water to drain properly If you’re growing indoors or in pots outside organic potting soil will provide plants with the nutrients they need For
planting in soil outdoors follow the instructions on preparing a garden bed Water Plants need plenty of water but not too much Make sure your garden is getting the right amount of moisture Always water plants right after planting Water newly planted seeds or seedlings daily for the first week or two Don’t overwater your plants An overwatered plant will look droopy It could die Use a hose or watering can to water your outdoor garden For indoor gardens you can use a watering can or mist your garden with water using a clean spray bottle Depending on your local climate you may need to water your outdoor plants Set out a rain gauge or clear container Measure the amount of water that it collects If it doesn’t rain at least 1 inch 2 5 centimeters per week give your garden a good soaking Outdoor plants may need extra water on very hot days Water outdoor plants in the morning or evening This keeps the water from evaporating too fast Water indoor plants every few days If the soil feels dry when you poke your finger below the surface then your garden needs watering Tap water may contain chlorine or salts that can harm your plants It is best to use rainwater or distilled water
Starting a Garden Once you understand the basics of garden care you’re ready to get started Each project in this book includes a list of the materials you’ll need Most can be found at a nursery department store or hardware store If you can’t find the exact plants or supplies listed don’t despair Use what you can find and give the project your own twist After you’ve decided on what garden to grow you’ll need seeds seedlings or plants A seedling is a very young plant If you start with a seedling or plant you’ll need to transfer it from its original container into your garden or pot If planting in a container make sure there are holes on the bottom so water can drain Eventually a plant may grow too large for its pot If this
happens carefully remove the plant gently loosen the roots and replant it in a larger container Fill in around it with fresh potting soil Gardening Tools You’ll also need a few tools and other supplies A trowel is used to dig holes for bulbs or seedlings Plant labels will help you remember what you planted and where A spade rake or hoe may come in handy when preparing an outdoor garden bed Weeding and Mulching Removing weeds will help keep your plants in good shape especially if your garden is outdoors The best way to prevent weeds is to put mulch around your plants Mulch also helps keep the soil moist Fertilizer It’s a good idea to add some fertilizer to your soil or water every month or two Buy liquid houseplant fertilizer or plant spikes and follow the directions on the package
