If you're garden's in need of a little TLC but you're not sure where to start, you're in the right place!
So whether you’re looking after a house plant or nurturing a tree, check out our round-up of the best gardening tips for beginners for a helping hand!
Basic gardening tips for beginners
Make sure you have the right tools
Before you can do any gardening, you need to make sure you have the right equipment! Here’s a quick round-up of the essentials that any gardener must have:
- Pruning scissors
- Tools for digging and raking (i.e. a spade, a trowel and a garden fork)
- Tools for watering (i.e. a garden hose and a watering can)
- Tools for weeding (i.e. a forked trowel and a gardening knife)
Secure your plants to help them grow straight
Once you’ve potted your plants or trees and they’ve started to sprout, you’ll need a sturdy fastener to help them grow straight. Green plastic ties with a wire core are very common but they can cause damage to the plant stem, causing it to snap in two.
We’d recommend using VELCRO® Brand Plant Ties – they’re much less harsh than wire ties as they offer a soft barrier for the stem while it grows. Not to mention they’re much easier to wrap and unwrap!
They’re also self-gripping so there are no awkward knots and a soft lining ensure the tie does not cut into the stem. The ties are fully adjustable as your foliage grows and they’ll be a secret weapon to stop plants flopping around or growing in the wrong direction.
You can even use them as a plaster for any splits or cuts your plant stems receive along the way. And they’re gentle enough to pull the plant together carefully while it heals itself.
Pick the right plants
There’s nothing more demoralising than planting a new plant, only for it to die. Avoid this by checking what type of soil you have (sandy or clay-like) and planting plants that thrive in that type of soil. If you’re not sure which plants are suitable for your soil type, have a peak into your neighbours’ gardens to see what they’ve planted.
Water plants correctly
A good gardening tip for beginners is to be careful when watering plants. The trick is to provide them with enough water without the soil becoming waterlogged.
Water your plants slowly so that the water soaks down into the soil (it should feel damp about 2-3 inches below the surface).
What are you waiting for? Spades at the ready, let’s get gardening!
We hope these gardening tips for beginners help you get started and don't forget to shop VELCRO® Brand Plant Ties for a great way to support plants and seedlings.