Checklist Before Planning a Gardening Project!
![Checklist before planning a gardening project!](https://scurleyseverythingandmore.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/gardening-a-natural-way-to-reduce-stress.png)
Before you start a gardening project, check that your path is not blocked by any underground cables. Also, make sure there are no buried pipes in the area where you want to plant a bed or grow fruits and veggies. Remember to always notify your service providers when digging near electrical lines, gas pipelines, and water systems. It’s also a good idea to speak to your neighbors about any projects you’re planning.
As a general rule, the deeper the root system of a plant, the greater its tolerance for adverse weather conditions and stress periods. If we want our garden (or part of it) to be as resilient as possible, we must choose shrubs and trees that can adapt well to both drought and cold temperatures. We may also opt for plants that can survive in the shade. The following is a list of particularly hardy species:
– Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) – Hardy to zone 2, can withstand severe cold conditions and requires at least 6 hours of sunlight a day, but cannot tolerate drought.
– Eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) – Hardy to zone 4, can withstand severe cold conditions and tolerates drought, but cannot stand humidity or shade.
– Eastern white pine (Pinus strobus) – Hardy to zone 3, can withstand severe cold conditions and prefers full sun, but cannot tolerate drought or shade. Etc.
For more information on which plants are best suited to your climate (and their minimum planting distances), please check your regional garden center or horticultural society.
To avoid diseases, insects, and other pests that can damage or even kill our prized plants, it’s essential to ensure they have optimal conditions for growing. Maintaining proper levels of moisture, sunlight and mulch can ensure your garden is as healthy as it is fun to look at.
In the case of soil, make sure it’s of good quality (not too compact or too porous) and doesn’t contain harmful chemicals such as herbicides or pesticides.
Mulching materials are usually made up of organic matter (sawdust, straw, wood chips) and help maintain moisture levels while simultaneously preventing weeds from growing.
Sourcing a good supply of organic matter can prove difficult in some areas where arable land is scarce. In these cases, we have the option of either waiting for natural vegetation to grow on fallow plots or using composting materials such as kitchen scraps, plant debris, and manure.
Fertilizers are often thought to be an unnecessary expense since they can simply be replaced with compost or other organic matter sources. However, it’s important to note that the nutrients found in animal manure and plant debris decompose very slowly – sometimes taking as long as a year – whereas chemical fertilizers have a high nutrient value and break down easily.
When planning a garden project, it’s important to have a list of materials you’ll need beforehand – unless you have a particular preference for going on random walks through the local hardware store. To avoid surprises, try to be as precise as possible when figuring out what you want or making a list of supplies.