Professional gardeners share some easy tips to keep your flower garden bursting with blooms this summer.
It may seem counterintuitive, but it's a great tip for encouraging blooms, she explained.
Professional gardener Alexandra Campbell shares her tips for creating a blooming garden. Photo credit: Alexandra Campbell
Alexandra Campbell (@themiddledizedgarden) shared her gardening tips in an interview with The US Sun.
The UK-based gardening blogger and YouTuber explained that many beginners get too ambitious with their crops.
Instead, she advised beginners to grow the vegetables they would like to eat.
“Start with easy veggies — salads, herbs, potatoes, zucchini — they're all super easy,” she said.
“Before you try growing a variety of vegetables, you should first get to know a few of them.”
Another mistake she sees often is not paying attention to the soil, as she explains that many people don't realize how much soil is needed to promote healthy growth.
“You should nourish the soil by applying a 1- to 2-inch layer of garden compost, well-composted manure or other organic mulch around the entire border at least once a year,” she added.
“That way you won't have to use as much fertilizer. And you need to know what type of soil you have to plant things that will grow well.”
“Try a soil test or ask your neighbors what plants are good to grow in their yards.”
For flower lovers, there are some easy tips that can help you keep your flower buds in full bloom without much effort.
Gardening enthusiasts are going crazy for the Salix Flamingo Tree, which is sold at a bargain price and can completely transform a garden in just a few minutes.
“Deadheading is the best way to keep your garden full of flowers in the summer,” she says.
“When flower heads begin to wither, cut them off. Many plants, including roses, dahlias and goums, will respond by producing more flowers.
“Keep scissors or pruning shears by your back door and take them with you on your morning walk each day.”
Campbell explained that she relies on natural pest control methods to get rid of pests that multiply during the summer.
Easy gardening tips to save money, maximize space and repel pests
*Clicking on links in this article may earn us affiliate commission.
Banana peels, vinegar, and coffee grounds are often recommended as natural fertilizers. Dollar Tree sells a four-pack of seeds for $1.25. To make the most of a small space, try a vertical planter like Amazon's Mr. Stacky 5 Tier Stackable Planter ($35). To keep vegetable-eating bugs at bay, use netting like Amazon's Garden Netting Pest Barrier ($8). Try sacrificial planting to reduce pesticide use and keep pests out of your garden. Intentionally growing certain plants to attract agricultural pests can help keep them away from the plants you want to protect. Examples include marigolds, lavender, catnip, and chives. For pesky weeds in your garden, Amazon's Grampa's Weeder – The Original Stand-Up Weed Puller Tool with Long Handles ($45) is a handy tool. You don't have to bend over to use it.
“I barely use any products, which saves me money and makes gardening easier,” she said.
“For example, many plants become flooded in May and June. [with] Aphids. Unless you use a spray-on insecticide, they will soon be followed by ladybugs and aphid-eating birds.
“And they really do eat all the pests! This method will vary from country to country and therefore from type of pest to type, but you should always try to think of ways to get rid of pests naturally (or have nature get rid of them) if possible.”
She explained that when it comes to pest control, it's important to be mindful of the harm that chemicals can cause to sensitive plants.
“I only use certified organic slug control products, and only when the plants are very small and weak,” she says.
“Once they're grown, they can tolerate a few nibbles. In Britain's top gardens, an increasing number of gardeners are opting to forgo spray herbicides and pest control altogether.”
“But the only product I always have to buy is well-composted manure. Compost shrinks, so it's impossible to make as much compost as you need for any garden.”
She talks about common beginner mistakes and tips for dealing with summer pests. Photo by Alexandra Campbell
