Novice gardeners are being offered 23 gardening tips for 2023 to help them make the most out of their outdoor space.
The gardening experts at GardeningExpress.co.uk have looked at the things every gardener needs to know.
Among the advice is planning out your garden, understanding what and when to plant and tips for looking after plants and the soil.
Other considerations pointed out by the experts include how to attract wildlife, areas of the garden to use for entertaining and creating shade incase of another hot summer.
Chris Bonnett from GardeningExpress.co.uk said: “Creating a garden and maintaining it can be hard work but it’s very rewarding.
“Nothing beats seeing nature do its job – with a little helping hand from us gardeners – and create spaces that feed us, we can relax in, unwind after a busy day and enjoy
“We’ve put together our 23 tips for 2023 for people starting out with gardening with a few pointers on what they need to think about and look out for.”.
Here is GardeningExpress.co.uk‘s 23 tips for 2023.
- Plan your garden
Sit down and figure out what you want to do with your garden over the coming year and how you want to use it. Think about what you want to grow and how you can best utilise the space.
- Know your garden
Getting to know your garden is vital. For example, is it north or south facing? What soil type do you have? This will play a massive part in your planting scheme and where you place entertaining areas.
- Understand what to plant when
Once you have a bit of a plan, it’s time to think about planting. Do your research and make sure you plant the right ones at the right time in the right place.
- Caring for your plants
Plants need looking after. Think about the weather conditions, where they’re placed in the garden and how best to protect them. For example, pots in full sunlight on the patio may need moving somewhere shady during high temperatures.
- Looking after the soil
Soil needs to be nutrient rich and well drained. You can add nutrients with different types of compost.
- Watering
Develop a watering schedule to plan, especially during dry, hot sunny spells.
- Growing fruit and vegetables
If you’re going to grow your own fruit and vegetable, start small and opt for easy to look after, low maintenance varieties. Salad veg, potatoes and rhubarb are a good place to start.
- Lawn care
If you have a lawned area in your garden, keep it cut and well looked after. It too needs watering and feeding, especially during the summer.
- Controlling pests
Try to avoid spraying your garden with chemicals to control pests. Instead opt for natural methods like attracting beneficial insects.
- Good bugs
Ladybirds, hoverflies, wasps, bees and spiders are the bugs you want in the garden to keep the nasty, plant eating bugs at bay.
- Attracting wildlife
Do try and encourage wildlife into your garden. Birds are great at nibbling pests and bees pollinate the plants.
- Composting
Why not create your own compost bin? Food scraps, grass cuttings and other garden waste all makes for great compost.
- Outdoor entertaining
If you love entertaining, create an area within your garden for comfy seating, somewhere you can eat and a BBQ.
- Creating shade
Summer 2022 was hot so consider a shady area in the garden. To begin this may simply be finding somewhere for a large parasol, long term it could be a shady corner with trees and tall planting.
- Water usage
Watering is essential but think about how you collect that water. Installing water butts is your best option.
- Container gardening
Why not add some pots and containers to patio and decked areas? These add all year round interest and you can move them depending on how hot or cold it is.
- Using your greenhouse
If you’re new to using a greenhouse, start with something easy like tomatoes and courgettes. Make sure your greenhouse is well ventilated and clean.
- Creating boundaries
Think about the boundaries in your garden – do you want fences, hedges or something different? Do let your neighbours know if you’re planning to replace something already there.
- Pruning
Don’t be afraid to prune. Research the best time for the plants in your garden. You will be rewarded – regularly pruning equals a thriving plant.
- Garden storage
Do think about storage in your garden. If you have a small space you may want to be creative about the storage areas you create.
- Be patient
A beautiful garden doesn’t happen overnight. Be patient and enjoy watching the different stages as you develop and add to it.
- Maintaining your garden
Maintaining your outside space is a lot of work. Do jobs as you see them, try not to let them stack up and hopefully you’ll keep on top of those garden chores.
- Enjoy your garden
Do remember to enjoy your garden. Whether that’s with a good book, a glass of wine with friends or watching the wildlife, enjoy your outdoor space.
https://help.gardeningexpress.co.uk/knowledge-base/gardening-garden-design-trends-for-2023/
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