Start a Garden!

Yip-yip-yippee! The sun is shining! In case you didn't know, I'm Marty—top dog of the BSG. Nice weather means time to run around outside, chase tennis balls, and dig up the garden. But here’s a secret: (don't tell anybody!) I dig in the garden because I really like flowers and want to help! So, if you aren't afraid of dirt and mud and worms – let's share some flower and veggie growing tips.

Tip #1: Plants come with instructions!
Next time you're at a greenhouse, read the little tags on your favorite flowers. The tag tells you how much sun and water the flower needs, along with other important information like which season to plant it outside and how tall it will get. If the tag says full sun, your flower needs light all day long. If the tag says shade, you can plant your flower under a tree or any place that doesn't get too hot and bright.

Plants

Tip #2: All plants need three things: water, light, and yummy dirt.
If your garden is in trouble, you might be missing one of these three key ingredients. Make sure your garden gets enough sun for the kinds of plants you chose (check those tags!), and don’t forget to water! Also, make sure your dirt is healthy (see Tip #2).

Tip #3: Gardens love worms!
If your garden has worms, that's a good thing! The tunnels worms dig let air into the soil; worms eat dead plants and compost; and worm poop is full of nitrogen, which is important for healthy dirt. If your patch of dirt has never been used for a garden before, and the dirt is light brown, hard, sandy, or rocky; you should dig it up and mix it all around with a shovel or gardening rake. Then mix in some fertilized dirt from the hardware store. Hopefully the worms will come crawling over to check it out!

Tip #4: Water early but not too often.
You can plant your garden with seeds, but it's usually easier to plant flowers or vegetables that already got started in a greenhouse. Either way, right after you put something in the ground—give it water! You want to water until the ground turns dark brown and when you stick a finger in the dirt, it feels moist all the way through. Don’t water again until the soil feels dry, but be careful not to water when it's really hot or dry outside—the water will just evaporate. Check the weather—if it's going to be a super hot and dry day, water in the early morning and late evening.

Tip#5: Love your garden!
Plants need love and care, just like a pet dog. Make sure you visit your garden every day. Pull up any weeds you find, check for worms, and add water if the soil feels dry. Sometimes plants get sick—and since there isn't a garden vet, the best thing to do is ask your local greenhouse what might be wrong. If you take care of your garden, you’ll enjoy beautiful flowers or yummy vegetables all summer long!