Five landscaping resolutions for the new year:
As the new year unfolds, garden enthusiasts are eagerly planning for the growing season ahead. To ensure a productive and manageable garden, follow these detailed steps to prepare for the 2018 season.
**1. Early Ordering of Plants, Seeds, and Supplies**
Start planning your garden well before the growing season begins. By ordering early, you can secure the best quality seeds, plants, and materials, avoiding supply shortages and giving yourself ample time to research the varieties best suited to your climate and preferences. Remember to consider the planting schedule in your climate zone to determine when to start seeds indoors or transplants and when to plant outdoors.
**2. Creating Grow Bags and Raised Beds**
Grow bags and raised beds are excellent for maximizing space and improving soil conditions. For grow bags, use high-quality potting soil or specifically formulated soil for containers to ensure good drainage and nutrient content. Support plants with stakes or cages to maintain upright growth as they develop heavy fruit. In raised beds, plan the layout considering sun exposure and plant needs. Mulch raised beds to retain moisture and enrich soil organically, particularly important in intensive gardening techniques like square foot gardening.
**3. Planting Techniques and Garden Layout**
Decide on planting patterns such as straight rows, staggered rows, or geometric patterns like triangles or hexagons for companion planting. Group plants with similar water and light needs together to simplify care and improve plant health. Use trellises or supports for vining crops like cucumbers, peas, and beans to maximize vertical space and improve air circulation.
**4. Growing Mushrooms in a Basement**
Growing mushrooms indoors, such as in a basement, involves controlling temperature, humidity, and light levels suitable for the mushroom species you choose. Prepare substrates like straw, sawdust, or coffee grounds inoculated with mushroom spawn. Keep the substrate moist and in a contained area, such as grow bags or containers, in your basement. Regularly monitor moisture and air circulation to prevent mold growth. Harvest mushrooms when the caps open but before they flatten out for best quality.
**Additional Tips:**
- Consider cover crops and soil preparation techniques early in the year to enrich and prepare your garden beds for planting in spring. - Regular pruning and harvesting, particularly for crops like tomatoes, are critical for maintaining plant health and maximizing yield. - Mulching retains moisture, protects soil, and supplies nutrients, especially important in tightly spaced or intensive gardens. - It is suggested to check on dormant plants and tubers like dahlias, tuberous begonias, achimenes, etc., every couple weeks over winter. - Northern gardeners should remove excessive snow from shrubs and evergreens after heavy snowfall, using a soft broom to avoid breaking branches. - Southern gardeners can begin planting earlier than others due to warmer climates, but should also order early to ensure availability of choices. - For those who prefer DIY gardening, consulting "How to Grow Mushrooms in Your Basement-on Purpose" is recommended. - The basement should be cool for mushroom growth. - Returning to catalogs after snow removal is suggested to finalise your garden plans.
By following these steps, you will have a well-prepared garden that is productive and manageable throughout the 2018 growing season. Early ordering, thoughtful layout, proper soil and plant care, and innovative growing methods like mushrooms indoors will help you get the most from your gardening efforts. Happy gardening!
- To gear up for a thriving home-and-garden lifestyle in the 2018 growing season, consider making a home for mushrooms in your basement as an exciting, space-saving addition to your gardening endeavors.
- By preparing grow bags and raised beds in your home-and-garden space, you'll be able to maximize space while improving soil conditions and micro-climate for plants, making your home-and-garden lifestyle more productive and manageable.
