Dirt

Botanical beauty surrounds us as spring paints its color palette. Inspiring many to turn to gardening to embellish their domains. Happily digging in the dirt and choosing what to do with it. In this article, we will explore tips for those having difficulty deciding what to do with dirt.

Planting flowers, vegetables or herbs, can be a very simple process that will bring joy if nurtured correctly. It all boils down to the basics. Good sunlight. Usually 6 to 8 hours of exposure is needed for most varieties to flourish. This may be taken for granted by beginners but the length of sun exposure is critical to success. Check around your living space at different times of the day to see if you have enough hours of sunlight. Once you have established your sunlight hours, you will be ready to choose your dirt and

placement of planting. Containers are often great for flowers or vegetables or both.

Some vegetables require quite a bit of space to grow, such as melons, corn, andpumpkins. Most can be grown in small spaces. Patio containers or gardening kits can be picked up at your local home or garden center.

Now it's time to get down and dirty. The dirt is critical. Make sure your soil is loose and can be crumbled through your fingers. This allows moisture to flow in routes to easily develop a good root system for your plants. Fertilizer comes with most bags of garden soil but if not, you will need to add fertilizer periodically to your dirt to get the most out of your plants.

Gardening can feed you as well as nurse our souls.

Read your instructions on your seed packets. They are very helpful. Another critical and sometimes confusing aspect of gardening is how and when to water. If you grow in containers on your patio, you should water some every day with a sprinkling method or a slow pour method. When you use a garden hose without a watering attachment this can wash out nutrients and push dirt away from the roots that need to remain covered. Small gardens in the yard can be watered less because the ground usually holds more water effectively than a container pot. You can test the dirt by sticking your finger in the soil. It should feel moist, if it feels dry, or your plants are fainting in the heat, by all means water. If your patio containers develop a problem of fainting plants during excessive heat in the summer months, you can move them into the shade and water. They will become replenished. Then move them back as the day cools. Be sure to water every day during these hot summer periods.

Once you start gardening you will be surprised by the benefits. Stress reduction, creativity, and enjoyment of seeing the growth of your plants. The journey of getting to know dirt will be good for your mind, body, and soul.