Gardening Basics
Gardening is for everyone
Gardening is really about finding the magic balance between enough sunlight, fertile soil and water for your garden. The challenge is that each garden exists in a different context with variations on sunlight, soil quality and water availability and each plant has different requirements of sunlight, soil, nutrients and water. Add to that animals, insects and pests in the ecosystem that decide to feed on your plants and diseases that may affect your plants from time to time and it becomes clear that what is simple can seem complex or challenging if you do not have access to great advice and a community to learn from to achieve success and enjoy your garden.
Read on for more information on Soil and Compost Sunlight & Warmth, Watering, Fertilising, Pruning and Gardening Tool essentials and our Fact Sheet on Gardening Climate Zones to help understand what plants are most likely to thrive in your environment
Refer to the other sections of our website for information and advice on Edible Gardens, Flower Gardening, Indoor Gardening, Landscaping and Garden Design and dealing with Pests and Diseases.
Soil & Compost
Soil
Whilst most gardeners do not find it a riveting topic, soil type and quality is an essential ‘get right’ foundation for your plants. It allows you to adjust your watering and fertilising activities to cater for your plants requirements.
There are 3 types of soil that occur naturally:
- Clay – is comprised of small particles that cling together resulting in a heavy, dense mixture. Clay soil retains water making it a good option for for plants that rely on consistent moisture.
- Sandy – is comprised of larger particles and drains easily. This means it can dry out quickly but is also a good option for plants that like to keep dry.
- Loam – is a combination of sand, silt (deposits from rain and wind) and clay. This makes loam a balanced option for most gardens as it can drain, retain some moisture and any additional fertiliser.
Compost is essentially the creation of nutrient rich soil using organic materials from your kitchen and garden to use back in your garden. It is a great way to support living sustainably as it is also creates a food loop from garden to kitchen to garden if you use your compost in your edible garden. Composting is largely about creating a mixture of green and brown materials and creating an environment in the composting container for the microorganisms to break down the organic matter. This creates compost that is rich in nutrients and can be used to improve the soil health in garden beds and pots and reduce reliance on other types of fertilisers that may contain chemicals.
Sunlight & Warmth
Most plants require an adequate amount of sunlight and warmth to promote growth. There are a small number of plants that can thrive without warmth like lady ferns, dragon trees, spider plants, calathea, peace lily and english ivy however they are in the minority. light, water and nutrients. If you are growing plants with low levels of light its important to ensure they have the right amount of nutrients via healthy soil and adequate moisture.
Sunlight
Plants derive energy from sunlight that helps promote growth. This happens via photosynthesis that allows the plant to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen. All this means that the amount of sunlight each plant needs is an important consideration when looking at the type of plants and the amount of sunlight in the garden space.
Warmth
Plants also have different temperature requirements to create the optimal environment for growth. As temperatures for both outdoor and indoor gardens can vary significantly across the seasons it is important to consider whether particular plants require a warmer situation to be created at different points in the year. There are many ways to create warmth for plants depending on their situation. There are ways to provide more warmth to your plants such as mulching and cloching.
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Watering, how much is too much?
Water plays a crucial role in the health of plants as it does with humans. Water helps plants to draw nutrients form the soil into their roots and ultimately through the plant structure. It also helps with photosyntheses that is vital for plant health. Plants bought at a nursery will generally have a ‘how to care card’ that will outline how much water the plant needs.
As a general rule
- A thirsty plant will generally present with drooping leaves or leaves that are starting to turn brown on the edges or it may start shedding leaves. Generally it is better to give a dry plant a deep water into the soil and allow that to soak and let the excess naturally drain away.
- A plant that has been overwatered may have yellow leaves and /or roots that appear soft or mushy and darker in colour as they start to rot.
The best way to determine the level of moisture in the soil around a plant is to insert your finger into the soil at the base of the plant by about 3cm. If it feels particularly dry, the plant needs water
Fertiliser
For gardeners, fertiliser is the secret sauce . Depending on the quality and type of soil you have, you may need to supplement with fertiliser to increase nutrients to promote heathy growth. There are a vast amount of fertilisers available and they can differ in quality. It is false economy to buy a lower grade fertiliser as the goal to introduce quality nutrients may not be as effective.
Fertilisers are also made to cater for specific plant requirements such as roses, gardenias, natives, vegetable gardens and more.
Compost also acts as a natural fertiliser and you can save money and increase your sustainable footprint by introducing compost as a fertiliser.
Many plants require periodic fertilisation to promote their annual cycle and it is important to follow these guidelines to ensure the right amount of nutrients.
Pruning
Pruning is an essential activity in the garden and therefore one of of the key basic skills for any gardener. Pruning your plants regularly based on their specific pruning requirements is important for garden maintenance and promoting healthy growth. The purpose of pruning is either to remove dead or diseased growth or to cut back overgrown stems. Getting the timing right is very important to promote growth. Plants either like pruning during their dormant season or just after flowering. The thickness of the stems or branches you are trimming will determine the best pruning tool. Tools include pruning shears, loppers or pruning saws. Whatever pruning tools you decide on, its important to keep them maintained and razor sharp so they make clean cuts and don’t damage healthy stems. When pruning, make cuts on an angle and avoid the temptation to over prune. Removing a third or more of a plant in pruning session is generally considered too much and may not leave the plant with enough to recover, generate new growth and remain healthy.
Gardening Tool essentials
Like every past time the possibilities for gardening tools and technology is endless.
The types of tools you will need to maintain and care for your garden largely depend on how large your garden is and the type of plants, lawn etc that make up your garden.
When considering the tools you will need to get started, think about the following 3 categories:
- Safety – quality gardening gloves that will protect from bites and scratches, safety glasses etc
- Types and size of plants in your garden – larger plants versus small shrubs or plants in pots will determine different pruning requirements and tools
- The size and type of lawn in your garden – cutting, fertilising and watering lawns is essential for health and vitality of your lawn and the tools required to undertake these activities will vary based on lawn size (ie hand or motorised or ride on lawn mower).
Read Beginners Top 9 Garden Tools for an easy start to ensure you have the basics.
