Speaking broadly, you will get from a garden what you put into it; and it is very important, therefore, that a clear conception of the work is formulated at the beginning to help you determine how you will realize your vision. We do not mean to say that the garden will always turn out what it was desired that it should be; but the failure to turn out properly is usually some fault in the first plan or some neglect in execution.
General garden plan should be developed before any attempts to develop garden place. Try to determine the size and locations of the leading features of the place. The relative importance should be given to the various parts of the place, such as of the landscape parts, the ornamental areas, the vegetable garden, and the fruit plantation. If the area is large enough to present distinct landscape features, it is always best to employ a professional landscaper. The details, however, may even then be filled in by the property owner, if he or she is so inclined, following out the plan that the landscaper makes. It must be understood that we are now speaking of ordinary home grounds which the home owner desires to improve personally.
Choosing the garden site is very important. The site should receive at least 6 hours of direct sunlight (although the more light the better). The site should also be near a water supply and accessible to the gardener. Loam soil is most desirable. If the garden site does not have loam, the soil structure can be modified over time by adding compost or organic matter. The site should also be free from rubble and debris, should be relatively free of pollutants and away from pollution sources.
Having now discussed the most essential elements of gardening, we may give attention to such minor features as the actual way in which a satisfying garden is to be planned and executed.
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Better food, better health, better living -- all these the home garden offers you in abundance. And the price is only the price of every worth-while thing, honest, cheerful, patient work.
But enough for now of the dream garden. Let's go outdoors and look the place over, and pick out the best spot for that garden patch of yours.
Unless your garden is a very small one indeed, it will pay to have it plowed rather than dug up by hand. If necessary, arrange the surrounding fence to make possible the use of a tools for plowing and harrowing. If however the breaking up of the garden must be done by hand, have it done quite deeply down to the sub-soil...
Most things, in the course of development, change from the simple to the complex. The art of gardening has in many ways been an exception to the rule. The methods of culture used for many crops are more simple than those in vogue a generation ago. The last twenty years has seen also a tremendous...
The chances are that you will not find a spot of ideal garden soil ready for use anywhere upon your place. But all except the very worst of soils can be brought up to a very high degree of productiveness, especially such small areas as home vegetable gardens require. The ideal garden soil is a "rich, sandy loam."
