One of my favorite summer hobbies is home gardening. I love enjoying all kinds of things from fruits and vegetables to flowers and succulents. Not only is gardening a great way to be more sustainable, but it also can be a really fun way to pass the time. My mom is a fantastic gardener, and I’ve learned some great tips from her over the past few years that I will share with you in this blog post. 

Research, Research, Research!

Last year my family tried to grow strawberries for the summer season and we were super disappointed when they never bloomed. We took great care of the plants, watered them properly, and followed all the rules of gardening. Eventually, we found that we planted the strawberry bushes too late in the season, which is why they didn’t do well. Every plant is different, some require more sunlight than others, grow best in different seasons, or require more water than others. There are plenty of great blogs, Instagram accounts, etc., that provide information on all things gardening. 

Location Matters

Choosing a good place to put your planter boxes or home garden area can be difficult. You need to find a spot that has just the right amount of sunlight, because if your plants never see the sun they will not grow, but if they get too much sun they can dry out. This process might take a bit of trial and error, but the general rule of thumb is to pick a place that gets a good amount of sunlight. The DIY Network recommends a place that gets at least six hours of sunlight per day. If you are planning on planting directly in the ground rather than in planter boxes, they recommend a location with, “good drainage and air circulation, and a level location with loose, rich soil”. To read more about selecting the perfect location, click here. 

Water Often

When my family and I initially started gardening, I was always afraid of over-watering the plants. While over-watering is possible, it is much more difficult to do than you might think, especially during the summer. Boise summers can get really intense, so it is important to water your garden a good amount. Last summer, what worked best for us was watering the garden twice a day, once in the mid-morning and once around evening. Some plants may need more water than others, so it is really all trial and error. However, it is generally recommended to water at least twice per day. 

I hope you all are able to find as much joy from gardening as I do! If you are interested in growing your own foods, I would highly recommend doing some more research. Gardening is a great way to be more sustainable, save money, and it can be really fun! If you end up starting your own garden, I’d love to hear about it or see some pictures. Here’s to a great summer ahead!