Fun with Plants Use plants in fun and surprising ways by making the most of their unique shapes tastes and other features Discovering Creatures Look carefully at garden creatures explore their natural habitats and get to know them better Creating Garden Art Create art crafts and gifts for family and friends from the wonderful produce from your garden
slip Safety First When you’re out in the garden these simple guidelines will help you stay safe Wear closed toe non shoes Wear a sun hat or sunscreen to protect your skin Ask an adult before picking or eating anything just to make sure it isn’t poisonous Some things in the garden can look safe but may be dangerous Avoid chemical weed and pest killers With the tips in this deck you’ll learn to have a thriving garden without them Walk don’t run when carrying tools When using a tool make sure there isn’t anyone else within arm’s reach When using a tool keep the sharp end below your waist and always point it towards the ground When you’ve finished using a tool brush off the dirt and hang it up for next time That way no one will trip over a tool lying on the ground Always wash your hands after gardening Garden Tools Here are some of the most important tools and supplies you’ll be using in the garden Trowel Spade Garden gloves Fork Rakes Watering can
Digging In Preparing the Soil Before planting it’s important to prepare your soil If your soil is muddy give it a few days to dry out If it’s hard or dusty water it thoroughly and then wait a few days until it’s damp throughout Next pull out the weeds and cover your bed of soil with a layer of about 2 3 in 5 8 cm of finished finely sifted compost You can buy compost from your local garden nursery Use a fork or trowel to mix in the compost loosen the soil and break up dirt clods Finally use a rake to mound up the soil and even out the top Planting Seeds and Seedlings Seed packets seedling labels and gardening guides will tell you how to space plant and care for different seeds and seedlings Some seeds such as carrot seeds prefer to be planted directly in the soil Place them on top of the soil press them in to the depth they like and cover them gently with soil Other seeds such as tomato seeds prefer being planted indoors first Plant these seeds in containers filled with seed starting mix Transplant them into the garden once they’re about 4 in 10 cm tall and have some leaves growing To transplant a seedling dig a hole in your garden bed Gently remove the seedling from its container and place it in the hole with its roots below the ground and its stems and leaves above Fill the hole with soil and pat down lightly Watering Plants drink water through their roots Water each plant gently near the base Stop frequently to give the water time to soak in
Protecting the Harvest Here are some tips for protecting your plants from pests and diseases Add finished finely sifted compost to your soil By keeping our plants healthy and well fed we are preparing them to defend against pests and disease Create pest barriers such as wire mesh underneath the beds or row cover cloth or mesh over the beds Grow plant varieties that thrive in your area Ask local gardeners or garden nurseries for suggestions Handpick pests off plants If you see a plant that is full of pests remove the whole plant Water only when and where the garden needs it Fungus bacteria slugs and other pests love soggy areas Slugs and snails can be very harmful to seedlings Spray your plants with Homemade Insect Spray Rotate your crops If you planted tomatoes in a bed this year plant something else there next year This will keep the soil healthy and discourage the build up of pests and diseases Encourage beneficial insects to help control your pests with a Garden Helpers Bed Encourage beneficial wildlife by placing owl boxes and the like in your garden Planning for a Year Round Harvest By balancing fruit trees cool season annuals warm season annuals and perennials in your garden you can have thriving crops and flowers to enjoy for most of the year Annual plants grow produce seeds and die within a year e.g. broccoli lettuce sweet corn and tomatoes Perennial plants can live for two or more years e.g. herbs and berries such as rosemary and blackberries
