Gardening is one of the most popular hobbies of all time. The passion for nature can be fulfilling because, in fact, being in a natural environment, taking care of your plants and seeing them grow into something so beautiful gives immense satisfaction. Some people may believe that gardening is hard and it requires a lot of knowledge in order to not mess everything up, but the truth is this hobby is all about patience and dedication, with a little bit of understanding of some basic aspects such as the type of soil you have, your climate and understanding the plants’ needs. Gardening comes with multiple benefits for your body and mind, and in this article, you can find the best ways to make the most of your hobby as a beginner so you can enjoy this activity fully:
Understand the benefits of gardening
For busy people, gardening during the weekend is like a breath of fresh air, keeping their minds away from daily stress and chaotic city life. In fact, gardening is a great way to connect with nature on a deep level, promoting relaxation and positive thoughts. Also, it can be a great way to exercise your body because you train your muscles by carrying the various tools you use, performing squats and lunges when weeding, and so on. Overall, gardening can burn many calories, so if you are looking for an alternative way to exercise without hitting the gym, this is it. Also, growing your own fruits and vegetables promotes a healthy lifestyle, as you will most likely eat them while embracing a healthy and balanced diet, which provides you with a boost of energy to face the long days. So, we can say that this hobby can help you achieve equilibrium in your life, and it can surely become a passion that keeps your mind free of concerns, at least for a while.
Visualise your dream garden
If you have decided to become a gardener, your most likely goal is to create a beautiful landscape in your garden. In order to achieve your goal, you should first take a look at your garden layout and try to visualise the best way and placement to integrate your plants and décor. You can design a map on a piece of paper to have a clear idea of your final result, dividing your garden into multiple sections, giving each one a specific purpose. You could also identify the areas where there is more light or shadow according to the sun’s lighting during the day so you can choose the perfect plants for the conditions. To create a breathtaking aesthetic, you can get inspired by landscape designs running online on social media platforms such as Instagram and Pinterest.
Start with the right tools
Before starting to spend money on landscaping tools that you will most probably not use, as a beginner, you should focus on the basic utensils that can help you enjoy your hobby and take good care of your plants. For instance, some essential tools to consider are gloves, which should be durable and waterproof, pruning shears, cutting tools essential for your plants’ well-being, Loppers to cut thicker branches, a fork for turning the soil, a trowel for planting and taking out weeds, a rake to collect the leaves in fall, a ho for cutting down weeds and preparing garden beds, a watering can and a wheelbarrow to move around mulch and compost. Also, some plants might require some extra attention, so you should purchase some plant pots to take care of them individually and move them easily according to their needs for light and weather conditions. In fact, some plants require extra attention, and you might need to bring them indoors, especially during winter. Consider flower pots to maintain a beautiful design in your house despite the freezing cold weather.
Choose the right plants
There are multiple factors to consider to select the right plants for your garden. For instance, you should take into consideration your environment and research the plants that are more suitable for the area where you live and their final size so you can figure out where to place them to grow, the amount of shade in your garden, especially if you live in a warm climate, their flowering time to maintain a beautiful aesthetic every month, their growth requirements, such as how much water they need, and their overall resistance, especially to pests and parasites.
Establish a routine
When you choose to commit to your new hobby and decide to make the most of it, it’s essential to establish a routine and stick to it. You can either plan your week in advance or even months, according to the temperature variations. Of course, during the hot season, it’s much easier for you to achieve your tasks and goals, so you should focus more on creating a routine for winter, deciding what plants you should move inside, purchasing protection equipment and making sure you don’t neglect them despite the weather conditions. Gardening is more than a hobby for many people, as it can turn into a real passion that could take over your life, so as a beginner, it would be best to prioritise this activity, dedicating a few days a week to taking care of our beautiful plants.
Add some extra décor for your garden
Finally, consider completing your landscape design with some extra décor, such as statues, create a relax area with a few chairs and a sofa, add some stones on your pathway and colourful ornaments that could make your space appear like a fairytale garden.
Conclusion
We hope this article inspires you to embrace your new hobby fully, and enjoy it long-term by establishing a routine that can help you preserve the beauty of your garden all year.