DIY Gardening Tips, Design & Advice

Today’s gardening is much more complex than when it was merely done to grow food to eat. There are many things to consider: suitability, climate, water source, soil condition, maintenance level, lot size, allergens, pests, and many others.

We tailored this site as not to overwhelm you, after all we are professional landscape designers. With our low maintenance landscaping and gardening tips and ideas you can still manage to enjoy gardening regardless of the size of the garden. Whether you are new to gardening or a seasoned green thumb and regardless of the type you install, the procedures are usually the same. The following elements should be considered before you plant:

• Suitability
• Scale/proportion
• Variety
• Unity
• Simplicity
• Interest
• Balance
• Focal Point
• Shape
• Texture
• Color

DIY Gardening Tips - Getting to Know Your Soil

Knowing what type of soil you have is invaluable in determining what kind of plants to plant in your garden. Soil drainage is very important for long term plant health and growth. Soil is a combination of decomposed rock and organic matter. Soil provides oxygen, nutrients, water and anchorage to the plants.

Sandy Soil – This soil is very loose and allows water to quickly penetrate and move down through the root zone. These soils dry quickly requiring frequent watering.

Loam/Organic Soils - Soils that contain equal parts of sand, silt, and clay are termed loam. This soil allows even penetration of water and at a moderate rate of drainage through the root zone. One of the best kind of soils.

Clay Soil – Dense and heavy, small pore spaces which do not allow easy absorption of water. Clay soils hold water for long periods of time and are slow to dry out. Water slowly, and less volume to avoid root rot and other fungus problems.

Soil Type pH (parts of hydrogen ions)

• Acid – below 7.0
• Neutral: 7.0
• Alkaline – above 7.0

The optimum pH for most plants is between 6.0 and 7.0. To correct pH you can add organic matter, soil sulfur, or use acid rich fertilizer. Just remember NPK – Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium.

Nitrogen is needed for green healthy foliage and new growth

Phosphorous is required for flowering and fruiting development

Potassium is needed for healthy root growth

DIY Gardening Tips - On Garden Drainage

Perform a drainage test by filling holes in the soil with water. If the holes drain after 12 hours the drainage is considered good, if there’s standing water after 12 hours you will need to correct this prior to planting. You can amend poorly drained clay soil by using decomposed granite throughout the planting area.

Use organic gardening and avoide using animal manures and fertilizers. They contribute salts to the soil, collapsing pore spaces on the upper soil horizon. French drains can be added to a landscape where drainage is an issue.

DIY Gardening Tips - On Garden Watering

Regardless of the gardening design style, all plants need water. Group plants based on their water needs and separate them in different zones. Plant scale, location, appearance are all factors that should be taken into consideration. Consider using native plants that are adapted to your local climate, water-wise plants, pest resistant, fire resistant plants and types of soil that require less water.

Renovating and changing your garden over to water wise plants and gardening will help you re-evaluate the use of water, be more practical, and provide a water conserving approach to landscape design and maintenance. For more information on water-wise gardening please check Xeriscape landscape design garden section.

DIY Gardening Tips - On Garden Mulch

What is mulch? It’s any material you place on top of the ground to cover the soil surface. They can be varied by organic and inorganic materials.

Organic – tree bark, chips, lawn clippings, leaves trimmings, saw dust, green waste and other scraps. The organic mulches provide nutrients, humic acid, and microbial fauna as they decompose. These components help build the soil, lessen soil compaction, and increase water and nutrient up take by plant roots.

Inorganic - weed barrier cloth, Astroturf, recycled plastic, glass, plastic sheeting. Inorganic mulches do not offer benefits, but they offer longevity and lowered maintenance and they do not require additional subsequent applications.

Benefits of mulches are:

• help retain soil moisture and lower the need for watering
• control weeds and lower maintenance
• aid erosion control by covering exposed soil
• help with waste recycling
• attractive ground cover

DIY Gardening Tips - On How To Mulch

Organic mulch can be applied at a thickness of 4 to 6 inches for best results. The finer the particle size, the less you use to avoid oxygen deprivation to the roots. Inorganic mulches should be applied according to the product instructions. Applying at least 2 inches of mulch around the base of plants can help hold water for the plant and keep weeds away. It is also useful for new and tender plants during the winter months.

The best location for mulch is anywhere you have bare soil. Mulch can trap moisture and repels insects near the base of the plant that could result in injury to the plant from pathogens or feeding activity. If you are adding mulch to the area surrounding a plant or tree make sure that the mulch is pulled by 4 – 6 inches from the trunk or main stem.

Looking for more diy gardening tips?

Here are some more DIY Gardening Tips:

• Container Gardening
• Edible/Vegetable Gardening
• Basic Herb Garden
• Kids Garden
• Native Plant Landscaping
• Organic Garden

Roxanne Kim-Perez, a landscape designer from San Diego, brings science, art and nature to each and every client with emphasis on reducing our impact on the environment with her expertise in xeriscape landscaping.