These 3 Steps Will Help You Plant and Nurture a Productive Garden

By Carrie Spencer, garden writer, for Seattle Landscape Architect Brooks Kolb

Growing a garden is a healthy way to enjoy the outdoors, feed your family, and support your local ecosystem. But tending to a truly productive garden requires a bit of expertise and plenty of planning. These 12 steps aim to help you nurture your garden into the best growth possible.

1.  Outline a Plan Before You Begin

Dropping some seeds into dirt sounds easy. However, for the best results, plan your garden before you start digging.

• Create a sun map to understand your garden’s shade conditions.
• Draft a garden layout to follow while installing plants.
• Favor native plants whenever possible for better results.
• Select hardy companion plant combinations to attract pollinators and sustain healthy soil.

2.  Adapt to the Space You Have

Know what you’re working with, whether it’s limited growing space or hundreds of acres. Here’s how to work with the space you have.

• Grow in planters for portability, convenience, and pest protection.
• Choose foods that you can grow in small spaces, including in an apartment.
• If you live in a city, start a community garden.
• Use (or build) a greenhouse for year-round production.

3.  Deliver Nutrients for Optimum Growth

Your beginner garden needs lots of TLC. Of course, it also needs nutrient-rich soil, the right amount of water, and plenty of sunlight.

• Test your soil and add nutrients accordingly.
• Learn to compost and fertilize with kitchen scraps.
• Establish a healthy watering schedule for your garden.

No matter your level of expertise, you can learn to grow a garden that is as prolific as it is beautiful. With these simple steps, you can design the perfect garden for your property or apartment. Then, careful tending will bring you vegetables and flowers all season long.

Carrie Spencer created The Spencers Adventures to share her family’s homesteading adventures. On the site, she shares tips on living self-sufficiently, fruit and vegetable gardening, parenting, conservation, and more. She and her wife have 3 kids, 2 dogs, 4 cats, 3 goats, 32 chickens, and a whole bunch of bees at their home in Richmond, Virginia. Their goal to live as self-sufficiently and environmentally-consciously as possible.  You can reach her at carrie@thespencersadventures.net.

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