Five tips on how to keep your garden healthy

I’m assuming the reason why you have a garden in the first place is because you want to enjoy your own food, adopt a healthier lifestyle and enjoy fresh flowers every morning with your smoothie.

Or it could simply be to fill up your time with a new hobby while saving some coins.

Whatever reason led you to be a plant mum or dad, you must know some basic gardening maintenance tips to ensure the trees, plants, soil and flowers are healthy throughout.

This way, you will protect your garden from destructive diseases, drying and other factors that will destroy what you have worked so hard for after investing all that time and some money too if we’re being honest here.

So here are some tips on how you can have a thriving garden:

Plants need water to survive. However, there is a balance. Too much water and diseases may start to develop. There is the risk of root rot and fungal growth in the soil.

To determine if the plants need some water, use your fingers to test if the top layer of the soil and that a few inches deeper is dry. If it is then your plants are thirsty and need some water.

During hot weather and depending on the plant species, watering daily or twice a day will be necessary.

Increase fertility, reduce weed growth by blocking the sun and loss of moisture by putting a layer of mulch around each plant. You will want to go about three inches deep.

You can make your own using some wood chips, shredded leaves, straw and other mix of materials to spread on top of the soil as a covering.

Before setting any foot to your garden, this should probably be the first thing you do. Make sure the plants you are buying are healthy and disease free.

If you’re a beginner this may be difficult to tell. Examine the top part of the plant, the roots and be on the look out for dead spots and rotten stems.

Dark colors may also be an indicator that a plant may be unhealthy. If you’re not sure a Google search can put your doubts to rest.

Stop disease and infections from spreading to new plants by trimming damaged limbs and shrubs around the plants. Once you spot a diseased limb get rid of it before it rains the whole plant or tree.

Use sharp and clean tools to prune. If you’re not sure on how to do it properly, seek the services of someone who knows so you don’t lose the whole plant.

To fortify and strengthen your seedlings for transplanting once that time comes, add some fertilizer to their water and use that every time you water them.

You will notice a huge difference had you just used water. If this is something you’re not too keen on, you can make your own manure from all organic materials then use that instead.