A garden can be an extension of your home and a way to produce a bountiful crop, whether it's zucchini or simply flowers. As an extension of your home, your garden should be inviting and attractive. With elegant statuary, you can make your garden a true haven. Whether you're looking for taller statues or subtle stepping stones, incorporating different textures and elements into your garden is a great way to keep it fun and dynamic. A fountain is another excellent option. The steady, soothing sound can be incredibly relaxing. With some outdoor furniture pulled close and a clear path to and from your fountain, you can enjoy casual summer dinners or morning coffee in nature's pleasant surroundings. However, if your garden doesn't offer enough privacy for you to truly relax, you might want to invest in decorative (and functional) fencing. While classic picket fences are ideal for creating borders and style, bamboo fencing effectively puts up a wall without looking abrupt or out of place. Of course, your garden can also be a place to grow small (or large, given your space!) wonders. It's best to start with a raised bed. That will ensure that you have good soil and far fewer weeds. Raised beds also require much less water, about 20 percent of what a conventional garden needs. When your bed is ready, lay out a grid that divides it into square feet. You can do this with string, lathe, plastic, even old Venetian blinds. You can also buy grids. Limit the width of your box to four feet, so you can reach everything without walking on the soil. Planting depends on how much space each plant needs when mature. If the seed packet recommends planting seeds 12 inches apart, plant one per square foot. For six-inch spacing, plant four seeds per square foot. For four-inch spacing, you can sow nine seeds in each square foot, and if three-inch spacing is recommended, sow 16 seeds per square foot. There's no thinning necessary. Once you've harvested the contents of a square, replant it with a different crop. |
