{"id":4346,"date":"2018-05-12T01:37:35","date_gmt":"2018-05-11T14:37:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.airtasker.com\/blog\/?p=4346"},"modified":"2021-10-20T13:54:42","modified_gmt":"2021-10-20T02:54:42","slug":"beginners-guide-to-gardening","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.airtasker.com\/blog\/uk\/beginners-guide-to-gardening\/","title":{"rendered":"Beginner’s guide to: Gardening"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019re embarking on your first gardening project and not sure where to start, our beginner gardening tips may help. \u00a0Knowing\u00a0where to start, planning and understanding your garden design will be the key to your success. Before you get down to the local garden centre, there are a few things to consider.<\/p>\n

Looking for help with your garden? Find local gardening services<\/a> with Airtasker.<\/div>\n

What type of gardening do you want to enjoy?<\/h2>\n

How do you want to use your garden? Are you doing some landscaping to finish off a newly constructed home, or giving your existing garden a face lift? Will this space be used as an entertaining area, children\u2019s play area, g vegetable patch or chicken coop? Do you want to build a feature garden? Understanding the purpose of your garden will help you plan the design.<\/p>\n

\"tuscan<\/a>
\nSource:\u00a0Pinterest<\/a><\/p>\n

Landscaping and layout<\/h2>\n

Think about the space you have and how you might make the most out of it by carefully planning the layout. Garden goers with large, country backyards are blessed with their options. But if you\u2019re in a terrace house in London and don\u2019t have more than a 4-meter squared courtyard, you\u2019ll need to be a little bit smarter with your space. Draw up your design and experiment. Marshalls have a really handy garden design tool where you can create 3D garden designs for free.<\/p>\n

Design ideas<\/h3>\n

A little bit of design inspiration never hurts. Again, think about the space and how you want to use it. Seek out plants, grass, garden accessories and possibly even outdoor furniture to complete your design. Are you into water features? Would a flower arch complete your garden\u2019s English tea party look? Would a grapevine work nicely with\u00a0a Tuscan theme? Garden centers often have mini display gardens that you can walk through, and there is plenty of design inspiration to be found online.<\/p>\n

\"beehive<\/a>
\nImage credit: Harold Lloyd
\nGet your own homegrown honey by having a quaint little backyard beehive.<\/em><\/p>\n

Drainage and ground preparation<\/h3>\n

When planning your garden, don\u2019t forget to consider things like drainage and ground preparation. You don\u2019t want half of your back garden flooded and transformed into a mud puddle every time it rains. You may need to level the ground, dig it out, and even prepare the soil if it\u2019s lacking nutrients. If you have a bit of laboring work ahead of you, think about when the right time to do it will be. There’s no point in scheduling a landscaping job when rain is forecast, as mud and rain won\u2019t allow for much productivity.<\/p>\n

Read up on what you’re planting<\/h3>\n

Research is key for newbies to gardening. Know whether the plants, grass, flowers, vegetables, etc. you are interested in will thrive in your climate, how to care for them, and what their maintenance requirements are. For example, how much water does Sir Walter grass\u00a0need? Will it do well in a hot climate? How much sun does it need? What are the best conditions for laying turf and how long will it take to settle?<\/p>\n

\u2018Sun-mapping\u2019 is a thing – how much sun does your garden actually get and where? Spend a day outside to find out.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

Spacing plants appropriately<\/h3>\n

When designing a dream garden, many enthusiastic beginners neglect to think about the spacing of plants. If you\u2019re constructing a tropical paradise of different varieties of palm trees to surround your pool, prepare for their eventual growth. They\u2019ll drop fronds, seeds and maybe even coconuts; they can grow over roofs, pools and block gutters. Do some research on the species you want to use and space plants appropriately to account for growth.<\/p>\n

Maintenance<\/h2>\n

Once you\u2019ve established your garden,\u00a0 you\u2019ll need to have a good maintenance routine in place to keep it looking good. Think about this in the planning stage. Consider:<\/p>\n