Not everybody has a green thumb, but everybody can grow a garden with the right guidance and a little determination. This article presents a number of concise tips that can help you to get more from your efforts.

The fall season has arrived and the task of emptying our container gardens is at task. However, instead of storing your clay pots in a garden shed for the winter season, why not replace the summer annuals with edible fall vegetables. Having mums in your favorite clay pot signifies fall, however, consider adding alternative edible plants like leafy lettuces such as arugula, endive, bok choy and radicchio. When it is time for a quick salad, simply snip a few leaves, and you will instantly have delicious ready to eat salad.

Plant perennials that slugs and snails won’t be interested in eating. Snails and slugs can do irreparable damage to your garden in a single night. These pests prefer plants with thin smooth leaves. Plant some helleborus or euphorbias along with your other perennials. Perennials with hairy leaves or bitter taste are unattractive to snails and slugs, keeping them safe from harm. These varieties include achillea, helleborus, heuchera, euphorbia, and campanula.

Plan your gardening accordingly to the weather. If you live in an area where the ground freezes during the winter, do not plant anything before frost is expected. If you live in a warmer area, take a break during the warmest months of summer to avoid wasting too much water.

If you want a patch of green in your garden, consider planting a ground cover instead of a lawn. Lawns require a lot of water and maintenance. On the other hand, a ground cover usually uses less water, and certain varieties discourage weeds from growing. Many varieties of ground cover have the green color comparable to a lawn. You can save time and money with a ground cover.

Store your seeds well. If you do not store your seeds properly, they will not last long. A great place to store your seeds in a dark spot that is cool and has low humidity. You could even use a refridgerator. You can use zip bags to hold the seeds themselves.

Create a convenient cleaning station next to your outside faucet or garden hose. Collect all of your old soap slivers from around the house (or simply use a whole bar) and place in a plastic mesh bag. You can often find these bags in the produce department of your favorite store for storing vegetables in the refrigerator, or in the laundry department for delicates. Hang the bag near your hose, and the mesh works as a scrubber as well as containing the soap for an easy hand washing station.

Agricultural

Have your soil analyzed by a laboratory for a small fee so that you know which nutrients you need to add. Many college agricultural departments or cooperative extensions will provide this service for just a few dollars. Once you have the report, head to a farm supply company and buy what you need.

Natural or agricultural-grade diatomaceous earth is a gardener’s friend. You can spread this over the soil in your flower beds to keep pests away. Slugs in particular are cut by the tiny, sharp granules. This causes them to quickly dehydrate and will end their existence in your garden. Reapply after any good rain storm.

Gardening is a fun hobby for people of all ages. You can make a lovely flower garden in your yard, or grow tomatoes in small pots on your balcony – the list of options is endless. Nearly any lifestyle can accommodate some kind of gardening. Relax and enjoy what nature has to offer you.