Gardening is a wonderful hobby. Few hobbies allow you to tend to something the way gardening does. There’s something especially rewarding about caring for plants, watching them grow, and, in the case of fruits and vegetables, enjoying the literal fruits of your labors. Still, for all its joys, gardening is a lot of work, especially if you’re new to it. There are some things in particular that you’ll need to watch out for.
Weeds
Simply put, weeds are any plants that you don’t want growing in a particular area. While some may look nice, and it can be tempting to be lax about your weeding, that can spell real trouble for your garden. Nutrients in the soil, water, and even sunlight may be stolen by weeds, causing harm to befall the plants you actually care about growing. There are multiple options when it comes to getting rid of weeds. Carefully research them so you can decide which method suits you and your garden best.
Pests
Weeds may be the most visibly obvious threat to your garden, but they aren’t the only ones. Garden pests are plentiful and can be especially troublesome if you don’t take steps to get rid of them. Aphids can cause your plants to die if you don’t get rid of them early. Snails, ants, caterpillars, and beetles can also harm or kill your plants. You may be able to get rid of some pests by planting certain plants and herbs close to one another. Removing them by hand is another option, as is encouraging the presence of natural predators.
Sun Exposure
Where you plant different plants in your garden can mean the difference between them thriving or wilting. Not all plants require the same amount of sunlight. Some thrive in full sun and plenty of heat, while others do best with partial shade. Make sure you carefully research the needs of the plants you intend to grow and pay attention to how the sun hits different parts of your garden. That will allow you to plan out your garden so each plant has the best chance of receiving optimal sunlight.
There’s a bit of a learning curve when it comes to gardening. As a new gardener, you’ll need to learn about and watch out for weeds and pests while making sure that your plants have the sun exposure they need. Pay attention to how much water they get, the soil’s nutrition content, and temperatures as well. The health of your plants and your harvest depends on it.
Check out this article on planning and designing a productive vegetable garden!
