Getting started in gardening? Here are garden tips from gardeners that have shared their gardening stories with us over the years. Even if you have been gardening for a while, there is always opportunity to learn something new.
Thanks to all those that have shared their garden stories with us. 🙂
Every garden should have a healthy balance. 25% fruit and veg, 25% native plants, 25% exotic flowering shrubs and perennials and 25% space for children (and adults) to be in and actually enjoy the garden.
Avoid following what everyone else is doing in the street. Try and visit as many private open gardens as possible to get great ideas… and most importantly, get to know your local horticulturist who will guide you.
Start off small – don’t set yourself up for failure. Go organic. Talk to other gardeners. And get your soil right – then the plants will look after themselves.
My tips to first time gardeners is to have patience and try different types of flowers and shrubs as these are what attracts the birds to your gardens. The reward is never ending.
Think of the long term layout and don’t get caught up in annuals or perennials. Hardy shrubs and bushes to dominate the aspect and then plant the pretty little splashes of colour to suit.
Be patient and listen to local advice. Never give up and enjoy it.
Just do it! Start with something small but useful like herbs – even if it’s only a couple of pots on the window ledge give it a go. To start an ornamental garden walk around your neighbourhood and see what other people are growing successfully. If you don’t know what a plant is maybe knock on the door and ask – keen gardeners are usually happy to share their knowledge and often will share cuttings too!
Recycling, composting, worms etc have so much benefit for the garden and give you a warm feeling of being environmentally responsible. Every garden should have a compost bin, no matter how small it is.
My tips for gardening would be first of all to buy good quality tools for your work, as cheaper ones never last and don’t do a great job.
Cut off spent flowers to keep them producing and cut back perennials after flowering.
A compost bin is very necessary for good soil as well as a worm farm and I always mulch the garden with sugar cane mulch.
You cannot put plants in and think that they will look after themselves, as they need lots of TLC. Therefore – LOVE YOUR PLANTS.
Get into Permaculture! It’s a brilliant system for sustainable living, food production and ethical living and you’ll never go back to intensive production or monoculture again!
Watch your garden for the first year, see what grows best, then make tough decisions – remove what doesn’t work and create a garden you can utilise and enjoy.
Start small and simple, and persevere.
Be patient, start small and enjoy what you do. Eventually the waiting for seeds to sprout, flowers to form and open, communing with nature etc, is all worth the wait, and the enjoyment is immense.
Grow only what suits your climate.
Visit local gardens to see what is growing well and to find what you really like.
Mulch with barley / wheat, straw or mushroom compost
Look around the area you live in and see what grows best. Read books, watch gardening shows, join a gardening club and talk to your local nurseryperson about what you would like to achieve in your garden.
Try to grow a little something that will bloom in each season and with fragrance, so there is always some colour and perfume to bring happiness.
Start. That’s it! Everything you need to know you’ll learn as you go along. All gardeners experience failures but that’s why we keep compost bins. It’s simple, just get started.
My advice on vegetables is to choose vegies that have a better taste or texture than market bought produce. Snow Peas grown at home have a better texture, corn is so much sweeter and, as everyone says, home grown tomatoes have an amazing flavour.
My advice on growing Natives and Indigenous plants is to do your homework first. So many attractive Natives come from Western Australia and just won’t perform in subtropical Brisbane. Know your plant and consider the suitability of your local conditions when making your plant selections.
Finally, my advice on growing Orchids is to find someone who can provide you with good advice. A few tips and a little bit of guidance really helps when getting started with Orchids.
Just start. The garden is the ultimate lover- it rewards you even when you forget about it sometime
If something does not grow the first time it will the second time . Never give up, the results are amazing.
Tips I would give to a first time gardener is to plant, experiment, get dirty and enjoy the fresh air. Take time out to observe the changes and the beauty in each and every season.
After all, it is the simple things in life that bring us the most pleasure.
Grow in your veggie garden what you put into your grocery trolley in the fruit and vegetable aisle.
Would you like $50 to spend with us? Why not share your garden story with us – we would love to hear it!
Email us – sales@gardenware.com.au with ‘Garden Stories’ in the subject line and will we send you a list of questions. If you are published on our blog, we will offer you a $50 discount code!
