My mother always fancied herself a gardener. But the truth was that she ended up killing most of the plants--flower or vegetable--that she ever put into the earth. Now, to be fair, much of the cause behind these deaths was caused by the deplorable Arizona sun and the poor soil quality in our backyard.
If you have had similar experiences, you may feel discouraged. You might say to yourself, "There are some people born with a 'green thumb,' and I am not one of them."
But what you should know is that you can BECOME a green thumb if you take the right steps to set your plants--and yourself--up for success.
First, you need to determine the conditions of your environment. Many seed packets you pick up suggest that some plants can be grown virtually anywhere and everywhere, but that is far from the truth. After living in a region where summer temperatures can exceed one hundred twenty degrees, I would know.
Ask landscaping professionals and specialists at local hardware and home improvement stores about which flowers and vegetables will thrive the best in your area and what temperatures are ideal for the growth of the ones you have your eye on. This will help you plan far enough in advance as you watch seasonal conditions.
Then acquire the full range of gardening tools. Be sure to select utensils that are safe and easy to handle, especially if you are a beginner. Consider the type and quality of the soil you will be planting in.
For example, Arizona soil is extremely rocky, meaning that any gardener that plans to actually place plants in the ground will need a powerful appliance to break up the hard chunks of earth. You should try to make similar judgments and make accommodations.
Start amassing materials for a compost heap. Be sure to keep it in a place that is easily accessible from the kitchen as well as wherever you will be planting. This will help enrich the soil in which you sow your seeds.
Whether you are waiting for the proper season to roll around or you have failed in a few attempts to make things grow--or you just want to work up to truly planting--then try a simple indoor growth. Try visiting your local bamboo nursery, as bamboo grows with little effort, as long as it receives enough light. Plus, it is attractive and its shape can be easily manipulated.
Becoming a green thumb takes patience and persistence. But once you develop these skills, you will have the capability to grow your own herbs and even vegetables, allowing your home to be a little more organic, natural, and self-sufficient.
Author Resource:-
Bamboo Gardens Of Louisiana (http://www.bamboogardensla.com/) is a Bamboo Nursery. Art Gib is a freelance writer.
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