Gardener’s corner – 10 gardening tips from an expert
YouTuber Owen Harries shares his expert advice on how to tackle weeds in this video, which was originally posted on his Youtube page.
Gardening and growing is a relaxing and rewarding hobby that could leave you with bountiful harvests and beautiful bouquets across the seasons. It’s also great for your mental health and wellbeing by providing you with plenty of fresh air and a boost of vitamin D.
Starting out with little or no gardening experience can feel overwhelming, but it really doesn’t need to be. From weed prevention to creating your own ecosystem in your garden, The Welsh Gardener Owen Harries gives his top ten tips to help you blossom into a great gardener.
Use affordable tools that will stand the test of time
Buying good quality gardening tools will make gardening as easy and enjoyable as possible, so you can get the job done. But you don’t have to splash out on expensive gear. If you’re on a budget, just stick to the basics: gardening gloves, secateurs, a hand trowel, hand fork and watering can are five go-to tools to get you started. After all, your hands are the best tools for gardening!
2. Choose the right spots and soil for your plants
Understanding areas rich in sunlight and shadier spots in your outdoor space will help you pick the right place for your plants. Different plants prefer different soil and light conditions, so it’s worth checking. A simple soil testing kit from a garden centre will help you pick the right plants, and planting positions to create your beautiful garden.
3. Plan out your garden
Planning out your garden thoroughly will help to make sure that you’re optimising your space and soil. Remember to give your plants enough room too. Overcrowding can prevent your plants from growing properly so it’s important to read the information provided on seed packets, plant pots and labels. These will provide you with key details on the best spacing requirements for each type of plant. For plants being transferred from pot to soil, a hole should be dug with a diameter wide enough to accommodate all of its soil and roots.
Top Tip: A general rule of thumb is to plant seeds at a depth twice or three times their width with a light layer of soil on top of them.
4. Water your plants mindfully
Although watering may seem like the easiest task when it comes to gardening, knowing how to water your plants properly will ensure that you’re not accidentally missing out the roots and leaving your plant too dry.
To make sure you’re watering your plants thoroughly, water slowly and focus your watering so that you’re soaking the root zone. This will let the plant use the water more quickly and you should lose less water to evaporation.
Top Tip: Use only the water you need in your garden and collect rainwater with a water butt, so you’re looking after your garden without wasting valuable drinking water. Check out Welsh Water’s tips for saving water in your garden here.
5. Make mulch a part of your gardening routine
Mulch is a great method to keep weeds at bay. It doesn’t matter what you’re growing - a layer of mulch is guaranteed to benefit your garden. Biodegradable mulch is made up of materials such as chopped leaves, straw, grass, compost, wood chippings, bark, and sawdust. Mulches provide gardeners with a number of benefits. Applying a layer can help your plants retain moisture while being thick enough to deter new weeds germinating and growing up through it. For more information about making your own mulch, go to the RHS website.
6. Use natural repellents
In your gardening journey, you’re bound to come across unwanted weeds and pests. Most garden pests aren’t harmful to your plants and can be left alone. However, if pests are becoming more problematic, you might think ready-mixed pesticides could offer a quick solution. But be aware, they may do more harm than good.
Pesticides can have harmful effects on our environment and health if used incorrectly, so to avoid this risk, use natural repellents in your garden to keep slugs and snails away from your plants. Easy, natural methods use things you’ll probably already have in your kitchen – from salt and vinegar to eggshells. Read PestSmart’s blog to find out more about these natural methods.
7. Make Space for Wildlife
With plants comes plenty of wildlife. Although you may think wildlife can be some gardeners’ worst enemy, wildlife is actually beneficial. Birds eat a variety of garden pests, including slugs and snails, aphids and caterpillars while bees, and other insects pollinate our food crops.
Make a space in your garden for an area that is a bit wilder, where wildlife can thrive. Although it might look different to the rest of the garden, you’ll be doing your bit to supply space for nature and provide a home for natural predators which can help control pests.
8. Plant what you can eat
Planting your own fruit and vegetables can be a great way to bring fresh produce directly on your dinner plate. Tomatoes, onions, berries and currants can be planted in your very own garden, just make sure you’re planting during the right season for what you’re hoping to grow.
Certain crops or plants can also act as a natural repellent for common pests. For example, plants such as garlic, onions, chives and chrysanthemums are disliked by many insects. Growing these around your garden will be sure to repel any pests while offering you something to harvest around the seasons.
9. Reuse and repurpose old milk jugs and plastic bottles
You don’t have to have expensive equipment to create a beautiful garden. Milk jugs, old plastic bottles and containers make great covers to place over your plants during winter months to protect them from frost and give them a head start over the rest of the garden.
Top Tip: You can also create your very own DIY irrigation system using plastic bottles to keep your plants thoroughly watered. Cut a plastic bottle in half and drill holes in the sides and lid. Bury the bottle with the cap down into the soil and fill up the top half with water. Plant it deep enough in the soil so that it can reach the roots of your plants and release water. Easy!
10. Enjoy your garden and have fun with it
Sometimes, you might find yourself frustrated that your plants aren’t growing as well as you’d like them to. Don’t worry about it. Gardening should be fun and relaxing, so take the time to sit in your garden and enjoy the work you’ve done so far. Listen to your favourite music, radio show or podcast while pulling weeds or checking for insects. Do what you can to make gardening fun and relaxing for you.
About the author:
Through his social media and YouTube channel, Owen Harries, otherwise known as The Welsh Gardener, shares useful advice and tips to other gardeners and growers to help their green spaces flourish.
