Summer Gardening Tips

Summer is a great time to start a garden, and one of my goals for the season is to get my hands dirty in a little soil and get to growin’.

My roommates and I recently started growing some fruits and vegetables as a fun little side project. When you live in a city, having large backyards with lots of grass isn’t quite the norm, so we’ve been making the most out of our little back patio and trying to utilize it as much as we can. I got inspired to start growing more things after I did the post on regrowing foods from scraps. I’ve been keeping an eye on my pineapple, avocado and green onions, and it’s been so cool to see some signs of growth! A lot of my friends have beautiful gardens that they spend a good amount of time working on, and it’s definitely encouraged me to become more of a green thumb. It’s so rewarding to plant something with your own bare hands, then watch it grow and come to life.

If you are looking for a new project to pick up this summer, planting a few seeds is a great way to be outdoors and spend some time with mother nature. Here are some helpful tips I’ve learned that can help make the most out of summer gardening!

Commit

This is always an issue of mine. I’ve said many times that I want to start planting some things, but wanting isn’t actually doing. If you’re going to garden, you have to commit. A garden takes upkeep, and if you aren’t going to stay on top of it, things might not grow and lack of care will make the plants die. Gardening is supposed to be fun, so make sure it’s something you really want to do before starting.

Try a Community Garden

If you are new to gardening and are intimidated to start one on your own, try visiting a community garden in your neighborhood! Since a lot of people are working together to keep up the shared space, chances are a friendly pair of hands might be able to teach you a thing or two. This is also a way to get more involved in your community, and meet some new faces!

Pick a good spot… and the right stuff.

When picking a spot to start your garden, you need to think about sun exposure. 6 hours of direct sunlight is great for a lot of different plants, so it’s best to choose a place that will provide enough sun while still allowing some shade. It’s also key to pick the right type of things to grow…especially if you are a new to gardening. If this is your first go around, here are a few things that are easy to grow in the summer:

Tomatoes

Summer Squash

Peppers

Herbs (Basil, Chives, Dill,

Marigolds

Sunflowers

Succulents

Check The Weather

To save you some time, check the forecast and plan to plant right before a rain storm hits. Nature will do its thing and provide your plants with the water they need while giving you a bit of a break!

Water early

If it’s a dry summer and rain has been absent, you’ll need to give your plants a little more love. It’s best to water your plants earlier in the day before the afternoon sun dries out the soil, and night watering will keep the plants damp overnight which can attract more fungus. One inch of water a week is a good measure for watering, and always aim for the roots!

Thank The plants

It’s okay to talk to your plants…they are living, you know ;). I learned this tip from one of the women I look up to most here at Free People. She has a lot of things growing in her backyard, and she always remembers to thank those little guys for growing. Plants provide for us and the rest of the world we live in…the are necessary for life on this planet. Respect them, thank them, and love them!