Are you eating enough fruits and vegetables as part of your diet?
Studies have shown that most people aren’t. In fact, one CDC study suggested that only about 10% of people are taking in the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables on a daily basis.
If you’re a part of the other 90%, there is a simple way to start eating more fruits and vegetables day in and day out. You can plant a garden and get all the fruits and vegetables you need from it.
But first, you’ll need to learn how to make a garden. There are a series of steps you’ll have to take to bring your garden to life.
Here are 10 steps to putting together the perfect garden right outside your home.
Step 1: Figure Out What You Want to Grow in Your Garden
What exactly do you want to grow in your garden?
There are so many options to choose from. You can grow everything from tomatoes and carrots to lettuce and zucchinis in your garden if you want.
It’s a good idea to take a look at what kinds of fruits and vegetables grow best in your specific location. The last thing you want to do is spend a ton of time and money learning how to make a garden only to realize that the fruits and vegetables you put in it won’t grow in your area.
Step 2: Find the Right Place to Put Your Garden
Once you know what you’re going to put into your garden, look for the right place for it. Check out your backyard to see where the best location for a garden would be.
Ideally, you should try to find a spot that will get plenty of sun throughout the day since your fruits and vegetables will need it to grow. Try to look for a location that will get at least five hours of sunlight at some point each day.
Step 3: Map Out the Design of Your Garden
After you’ve found the right place to put your garden, you can begin to think about what you want your garden to look like.
There are some people who prefer to plant their gardens in raised beds. There are others who live in areas that are very dry that can benefit from sunken beds. See which option would work best for you.
Decide how big you want your garden to be, too, and give some thought to how you’re going to plant your garden. Whether you choose to grow rows of fruits and vegetables or break them down into blocks, you should have some plan as far as how you’re going to plant them.
Step 4: Consider Having the Soil for Your Garden Tested
Is the soil in your backyard good enough to grow fruits and vegetables?
If you’re not sure, you might want to think about having your soil tested. In a perfect world, you want the pH of your soil to be right around 7, which is neutral. You also want the soil to be loaded up with the nutrients that your fruits and vegetables will need to survive and thrive.
By having your soil tested, you can see what kind of condition it’s in. You may need to rethink your decision to build a garden if your soil isn’t going to allow it.
Step 5: Buy the Tools You’ll Need to Tend to Your Garden
There are a variety of tools that you’re going to need to build your garden and take care of it. These tools include:
- A garden hoe
- A dirt rake
- A garden shovel
Rather than buying a bunch of cheap tools for your garden, invest in high-quality tools that will stand the test of time. It might be worth taking out a small loan to cover the cost of these tools.
There are companies that can provide guaranteed loan approval to you so that you can get your garden off the ground. They’ll supply you with the money you need to make your garden a complete success.
Step 6: Purchase the Best Seeds for Your Garden
In addition to buying the best gardening tools, you’ll also need to buy the best seeds for your garden.
You might be tempted to run right down to your local home improvement store to buy them. But before you do, do your homework on seeds and find a company that specializes in selling the best ones on the market.
By spending a little bit extra on seeds, you can ensure that you’re able to produce the best fruits and vegetables possible.
Step 7: Plant the Seeds for Your Garden the Right Way
The seeds that you buy for your garden should come with detailed instructions as far as how to plant them. Follow those instructions and get the seeds into the ground.
Try not to plant seeds too close to one another when you’re planting them. You want to give them the room they need to grow over time.
Step 8: Take Good Care of Your Garden
As long as you’ve done everything right so far, it shouldn’t be long before your seeds start to sprout and grow! But your work will be far from over.
You’ll need to make sure your fruits and vegetables are getting more than enough water each week. You’ll also need to stop weeds from growing in your garden and choking out your plants.
Step 9: Prevent Pests and Animals From Getting Into Your Garden
Once your garden begins to grow, it won’t be long before pests and animals start to try and attack it. It’s your job to keep them away from your fruits and vegetables.
Taking good care of your plants should keep most insects away. Insects tend to be more attracted to plants that are withering than plants that are strong and healthy.
Putting up fencing or chicken wire should stop animals from invading your garden. Look out for rabbits, deer, and other animals that might try to get into your garden and steal your food.
Step 10: Start Collecting Fruits and Vegetables From Your Garden
At the end of this long process, you should have a garden filled with all the fruits and vegetables that you planted. Reap your reward by collecting fruits and vegetables every few days.
Most people end up with so many fruits and vegetables that they have to give them away. You’ll love having fresh fruits and vegetables on your kitchen counter every day.
Now That You Know How to Make a Garden, Go Build One!
Learning how to make a garden in your backyard is one of the best decisions you’ll ever make. You’ll have a new appreciation for food when you grow it yourself.
Your garden will work wonders for your health. You’ll get all the nutrients that you need when you start eating more fruits and vegetables.
Read our other articles to learn more about the benefits of growing your own food.