Photo: wickenden / Flickr

Can’t find your green thumb? You’re not alone. Learning to garden is often a matter of trial and error. The first mistake most beginner gardeners make is being overeager. Stocking up on pots, plants and gardening tools at the local nursery doesn’t guarantee a beautiful garden. In fact, it can end in disaster. To avoid disappointment (and plants that droop and wilt rather than flourish), you need to do some research before you take the plunge and get your hands dirty.

Get water-wise

The easiest way to kill plants is to under or overwater them. To avoid this happening, make sure you’re clued up on a plant’s water requirements before you plant it in your garden. Some plants, like the dainty forget-me-not, prefer soil that is always moist. Cacti and other succulents, on the other hand, do better when the soil is completely dry between watering sessions. If you live in a rainy area, be sure to choose plants that can handle lots of moisture.

Location, location, location

The first rule of choosing a property applies to plants, too. Some plants love shade and will thrive under a tree or close to a shade-giving wall. Other plants need lots of sunlight to thrive. As a rule, succulents, vegetables and flowering plants love sunshine while many foliage plants will do well in the shade. If you desperately want a little colour in a shady spot, do a little research to find a flowering plant that’ll grow quite happily in low light conditions.

Fertiliser: too much of a good thing

Plants need fertiliser to flourish but too much fertiliser is worse than none at all. When it comes to choosing fertiliser, go organic to prevent nasty chemicals leaching into groundwater. Then, be sure to choose the right type for your plants and, finally, use it exactly as the manufacturer advises you to.

Room to grow

Before planting, find out how much space your plants need. Perennials in particular can be misleading. While they look dainty in their little nursery pots, in a few seasons they could end up choking your other plants’ growth as they compete for nutrients and sunlight. As obvious as this sounds, remember that what you’re planting is going to grow. Be sure to give plants enough room to do so.

Mulch much

Mulch everything. Wood chips, leaves, or even grass trimmings make fantastic mulch, which will be beneficial to your garden in many ways. Mulch helps soil hold moisture, it keeps your plants’ roots cool and it adds goodness to the soil as it decomposes. Mulching is good for herbs, vegetables, trees, perennials and shrubs. Aim for a layer of around 3 inches.

If you fall in love with a plant that just won’t thrive in your garden, consider growing it in a pot. This way, you’ll be able to monitor the amount of water it gets and you can easily move a pot into – and out of – the sun.

Tags: Garden Tools, gardening, organic fertiliser