A well-kept horticultural secret about gardening is that it’s really hard work. To give it a more positive spin, gardening provides plenty of exercise while you enjoy a very fulfilling hobby. There’s really no need to be intimidated if you’re new to gardening. As long as you’re ready to supply the sweat equity, you can count on watching your plants flourish under your care.
It helps that Cypress Creek Landscape Supply has a fully stocked Garden Center in Tampa, Florida. All the gardening equipment and supplies you might need can be found at our two-acre oasis. You can also consult with our landscaping experts if you want more help than the following simple gardening tricks and tips.
Simplify gardening by using one or more containers instead of planting your plants directly in the ground. You can use gardening pots, concrete containers, wood containers, raised beds, or any number of other containers for your garden. Whatever type of container you use, good drainage is essential. In addition to holes on bottom, it’s usually good to include a layer of rocks underneath the soil. It’s not necessary for garden containers to have a hard bottom—a wooden frame can serve as your container. Simply put a weed fabric down to prevent germination of weed seeds in the existing soil.
The soil in your garden makes all the difference in the success of your endeavor. Chiefly, do not use garden soil! It’s not a good choice for a variety of reasons, including that it’s too heavy and it contains weed seeds, creatures, and other undesirable elements. Instead, use a potting soil mix that includes ingredients that help with moisture retention, such as peat moss or coir. For best results, include compost in your soil mix, as well. Maintain your own compost pile, as all serious gardeners do, with coffee grinds, eggshells, apple cores, and other food waste.
Unless your garden container is on wheels, it’s vital to be aware of the sun and shade in the area you choose. Plants may require full shade, full sun, or partial sun or shade. Be sure the plants you add to your garden containers require the amount of sun, or lack of it, that they’ll be getting, so they can flourish.
If you’re a beginning gardener, it’s best to start off with plants that aren’t too fussy. A few flowers that are simple to maintain include dahlia’s, sunflowers, petunias, roses, and clematis vines. Produce choices recommended for a starter garden include onions, bush beans, tomatoes, peppers, and basil.
Are you ready to tackle gardening and discover the joys of growing things? We invite you to visit Cypress Creek Landscape Supply at 12734 N. Florida Avenue, where you can find the plants, fertilizers, soil, rocks, and other supplies needed. We offer patio décor, pottery, wind chimes, birdbaths, and so much more. Our friendly experts are always happy to answer questions and provide additional gardening tips. Stop by or call us today at (813) 933-7944.
