A focused gardening routine is needed if you want to manage it in just one hour of your time each weekend. But don’t worry because it isn’t as hard as you might think. As a beginner or someone getting their hands dirtier by the day, there are targeted and proactive tasks that will help you form a consistent routine for lush and vibrant greenery. From prioritising your watering system to feeding plants in the right way, here are some tips for developing a greener thumb!
Organise the Tools You Need
A one-hour gardening routine is very possible, but it relies on a few things. One of the most critical is the tools you use. Rather than going back and forth between the garden and the shed, lay out the tools you need in order in a space close to where you need to work. Whether manual or power tools, organisation is the key. So, grab your battery leaf blower, hedge trimmer and even the trowel and place them safely for easy access as you power through your routine.
Home Garden Maintenance with Water Priority
Don’t despair if your plants die, as even experienced gardeners lose around 25% of plants each year. As a beginner, this is much higher, but you can reduce the rate with a priority on proper watering. Watering might also take a lot of time, but doing it the right way can reduce issues:
- Begin with container plants, as these dry out more quickly than plants in the soil.
- Then move on to younger plants in the ground, as these are also prone to drying out.
- Ensure you water deep into the soil early in the morning to reduce evaporation.
Tackle the Weeds Quickly
Weeds are the enemy of most gardens. While some weeds are actually nice to look at, they suck the life from the plants you want to grow. However, like any chore, it becomes easier the more you tackle it. Begin by tackling the weeds that are emerging, and never ignore the ones that are coming through. Nipping it in the bud, so to speak, is the best way of minimising the impact of weeds. Vinegar and hot water will make short work of weeds on your garden paths.
Remove Spent Flowers
Don’t get down if you spot deadheads. This is normal and can be remedied pretty easily. As part of your routine, check plants and flowers for dead heads and remove them with a good pair of pruning scissors. If you don’t, your plants will waste energy trying to produce seeds for dead parts of the flower. However, removing deadheads is also vital for encouraging a stronger bloom as the plant matures and tries to reach its full potential for the upcoming or current season.
Monitor Plants for Home Garden Maintenance
In the UK alone, around 27 million people enjoy gardening. However, there are some serious issues you can run into. A powerful garden maintenance routine depends on proper care, such as enzymatic plant health and root system resilience through correct monitoring and action.
Quickly scan for disease
There are many pests that can kill a plant, even in a well-managed garden. A quick scan during your routine can help you spot some of the signs of pests and diseased plants as you work.
Know the signs
Some signs are obvious, and some are not. However, act quickly if you spot yellowing leaves, holes in leaves and stems and sticky substances on the plants that attract pests to them.
Apply easy remedies
If you spot any signs of disease, you must act fast or risk losing the plant. Non-toxic solutions such as neem oil, potassium bicarbonate and phosphates can help treat your greenery.
There are many non-toxic solutions you can use to treat plants if you spot any signs of disease as you work in the garden. Fast action to reduce the time spent is critical, but the right solutions are needed. Neem oil can treat plants, but even something like garlic can help repel the pests.
Get Your Pruning On!
Pruning is a necessary part of gardening and will take some time. However, if you are proactive about it, you can gradually reduce the time you spend doing it. With high-quality pruning shears, promptly remove dead or damaged growth, and of course, act quickly if you spot any signs of disease. Pruning might seem like a bit of a chore, but it is very necessary. It helps prevent the spread of pathogens that will ultimately kill the plant and those around it, which will just make more work for you when gardening. Of course, pruning also helps promote healthy growth too.
Mulch Like a Pro
If you want less work in the garden, then you must become a mulch master. Applying mulch is a necessary task and one that is well worth the effort. It helps conserve the moisture around the flower beds, stops weeds from spreading and even regulates the soil temperature. A two to three inch layer of mulch is enough for most plants, and you can use bark, straw and leaves. If you have a battery-powered leaf blower mentioned above, you can also make mulch with it.
Home Garden Maintenance with Plant Feed
Between 40% and 90% of first-time gardeners face problems that cause them to fail. One of the most overlooked parts of gardening is nutrition. Plants need to be fed in the right way, or they won’t grow to their full potential, and they can even risk dying as a result of improper care:
- Select a slow-release organic fertiliser that provides steady nutrients to your plants.
- Apply compost around the plants you know are heavy feeders and need more.
- Focus on the areas that need plant feed instead of feeding the entire garden.
Tidy Up as You Work
An untidy workspace is an unsafe one. This is true no matter what you do. From the kitchen to the yard, obstacles such as tools, wires and cramped conditions will contribute to accidents. Given the tools you might use, an accident in the garden could be pretty serious. You can use the last few minutes of your time to ensure that everything in the garden is as tidy and neat as possible. This includes cleaning up debris, securing plants and putting away any tools you use.
Summary
Organising the tools you need beforehand will help you minimise the time spent on a home garden maintenance routine. It will also help to quickly assess your plants for disease and tackle it quickly. Of course, keeping the area clean and tidy as you go will reduce accidents and work.