By Kassi T Norington
A garden is not just something you do to decorate. Anyone can enjoy this hobby from an amateur to someone with a very green thumb. Becoming involved in gardening is a great way to find peace in your life, and gain an appreciation for the world around you. Once you develop some skill, you can make a profound effect.
Try to have a plan with your garden. Doing this makes it easier to keep track of where you planted what when you first start to see sprouts. This is also a great way to keep track of all your plants.
Shelter your deciduous shrubs. Any potted shrubs should be sheltered in the winter from cold weather. Tie the canes together, and drape a sheet or blanket over the top of the wigwam. Doing this is a lot more effective than wrapping up the plant with plastic because it lets air circulate, which could avoid any rotting.
Start your plant in pots before you plant them in your garden. Doing this betters your odds of your plants making it to adulthood. The period between plantings will also be shorter. When you take out the prior set of adult plants, your seedlings will then be prepared to go in.
Take the time to spread around five centimeters of organic mulch near your vegetable plants. Mulch keeps soil moist for longer periods of time. This is also efficient in preventing weeds from growing. You will benefit by not having to spend so much time fighting weed growth.
Beautiful insects are attracted to heather when you plant it. Bees like heather, and they get their nectar from it early in the spring. If your heather bed is undisturbed, as it would be in nature, many beneficial insects will make it their home. Because of this, you should put on a pair of gloves when it's time to prune the heather.
Separate irises. If you split up clumps of them, you will eventually have more of this flower. When you see the foliage is definitely dead, lift up the bulbous irises. The bulbs, when harvested, should easily split by hand - allowing you to replant them for even more blooms next spring. Make use of a knife to split up rhizomes. Get rid of the center and keep the new pieces you cut from the outside. Be sure to retain a sturdy offshoot on every piece that you intend to plant. Plant immediately.
Some annuals actually thrive better during the colder months. In order to make these plants presentable, be sure to prune them if they become too leggy. In just a few weeks, they will bloom prettily once again, contrasting the browns of usual winter foliage. Snapdragons, petunias and dianthus do the best in cool weather.
When planting anything, think about planting for color so that you have something to enjoy in the fall. It doesn't have to be this way, however. When it comes to vivid foliage, autumn offers the best opportunity to view it. Maple trees come in a variety of fall colors ranging from yellow to deep crimson, as do Beech trees and Dogwood. When thinking about shrubs, consider barberry, hydrangea and cotoneaster.
When you are mapping out your garden, you should consider the different kinds of vegetables you apply the greatest number of times in the kitchen. Once you have determined this, plant them. By planting your own vegetables, you will save a lot of money at the grocery store and also experience fresher, better-tasting food. If you have limited space you should not waste it by growing anything your family does not eat.
If you are planning on growing peas, start them indoors before putting them outdoors in your garden. The seeds will grow better in your home if planted there first. Seedlings raised indoors are hardier, too; they can stand up better to diseases and insects. Once the seedlings have become hardy enough to survive, you can transplant them to your outdoor garden.
Biennials and annuals are great if you would like to better your flower bed. These fast growth plants make flower beds vibrant, and they let you alter the appearance seasonally and annually. You can use them between the gaps in shrubs and perennials where there is plenty of sun. A variety of flowers that will thrive in your region are available.
Do you now see how gardening can be easier and even fun? Like anything else, gardening is a big subject and there is a lot of information concerning it. Sometimes, if you figure out where to begin, it's easy to "jump right in". With the tips provided in this article, you have the knowledge to start your own garden.
![Low-Calorie Recipes [Better Homes and Gardens, 2008] (Better Homes](http://cescjie.satriapajak.com/medium/59/home and garden recipes.jpg "Low-Calorie Recipes [Better Homes and Gardens, 2008] (Better Homes")
