Whether you’re planting flowers, herbs, vegetables, or a combination, using the right garden maintenance strategies can help your garden thrive. Here are some tips to remember when tending your garden plot.

Do:

Consider your skill level.

Small gardens are easier to manage and less time-consuming to maintain than larger ones. If you don’t have much gardening experience, plant only a few kinds of herbs, vegetables, shrubs, or flowers and check with your landscaping service about which annuals and perennials are easy to grow.

Prepare the soil.

Before spring or fall planting, prepare the soil by loosening and aerating it. Seeds can absorb water, sunlight, and oxygen better when the soil is not compacted. Mix a high-quality fertilizer into the soil before planting seeds, then lay down mulch. Mulching helps regulate soil temperature, keeps moisture from evaporating too quickly, and prevents weeds from proliferating.

Water Regularly.

New seedlings and establishing plants need regular watering, so make sure to water throughout planting and growing seasons. Saturate the soil sufficiently to reach roots. If you’re not sure how much water your plants need, check seed packets, which indicate precisely how much water a particular flower or vegetable needs, or consult your landscaping contractor.

Don’t:

Use Herbicides.

You may not love weeding, but it’s an essential task of garden maintenance. Herbicides prevent weeds from growing, but they also stop newly planted seeds from sprouting. Don’t use herbicides to prevent weeds until your flowers and shrubs are established.

Water in the Afternoon or at Night.

It’s best to water in the morning before temperatures start to climb. If you water in the heat of the afternoon, you’ll lose too much water to evaporation. Also, avoid watering at night. Watering at night when the soil is warm and wet, attracts insects and invites plant molds.

Overwork the Soil.

Garden soil should be a bit clumpy, so don’t try to break it down into fine particles. Also, don’t work the ground while it’s wet. Plants need oxygen. Working the soil when it’s wet, forms mud that will stop plants from getting the oxygen and nutrients they need.

Bring your dream garden to life with planting help from Done Right Landscapes, conveniently located in St. Peters, MO. Their professional landscapers provide quality residential and commercial landscaping services, outdoor living designs, and garden maintenance for residents throughout St. Charles County. Call (636) 373-3902 to schedule a consultation today, or browse their landscape designs online.