Gardening advice for people who cannot garden
There are so many of us out there who really try our best with gardening and yet we still end up with a backyard full of dying plants! If you are fortunate enough to have your own garden you want it to look beautiful and welcoming to your guests - there is nothing more off-putting than browning grass and shrivelled flowers. You can deck it out with gorgeous outdoor furniture and set up magical lighting (check out festoon kits for outdoor space if your DIY skills are just as bad as your gardening skills) but a garden is not a garden without a bit of gardening! So here is some advice on how you can get a beautiful, blooming garden without needing any expert skill.
- Ask questions
You probably have some friends or relatives with picturesque gardens that fill you with envy and drive your desire to get into gardening – so ask them how they do it! Ask them specific questions about their techniques or habits, or just ask for general advice on garden maintenance, there is no such thing as a stupid question. If you do not want to hound people with questions, then seek out detailed advice on the internet or read a gardening book for some inspiration. The best people to ask are employees at your local gardening centre, get extensive details on how to take care of individual plants before you decide to purchase them.
- Do not be afraid to experiment
You can get plenty of quirky and interesting advice from friends or gardening books but there is nothing more valuable than personal experiments. Do not be put out if something does not work, just chalk it down to the learning process and try something else. The wonderful thing about gardening is that if a plant does not grow, you can dig it up and try again. And do not be afraid to get creative with your techniques – did you know that you can use cellophane to blow strong winds, or you can use milk jugs as mini-greenhouses? You are not going to discover any of these new things if you do not try them for yourself.
- Copy what works
Whilst experimenting is fun and helps you get to grips with your own style of gardening, you should always take note of what works for others. Other people will have their own strange advice and techniques they have discovered, listen to these tips and try them for yourself – no matter how strange they may sound to you at first.
- Do what works for you
And finally, do whatever works for you. With time and practice, you will gradually build up your own way of gardening. You will have your favourite techniques and favourite type of compost or garden gadgets, whatever you find beneficial. If you have discovered something that works for you, do not listen to people trying to tell you there is another way – if it works, why resume the experimental phase? Do it in your own way.
