How to create your own stunning garden

Part of the dream of home ownership includes starting your very own garden, flower or vegetable. Outdoor gardens serve as an additional source of aesthetic beauty for your property and offer a fun, rewarding hobby that provides psychological benefits. That’s not to mention flowers for vases and vegetables to eat.

Green spaces and gardens have been shown to improve mood and relieve stress, so consider starting one if you feel you need an outlet from the hectic business of everyday life. And, with its relatively inviting climate, the Annapolis area is an ideal place to start either type. Here are some tips to get you on your way.

Starting an outdoor garden

Before the shovel hits the dirt, if your garden choice is the flower variety, you should find a few nearby flower shops and nurseries to spark inspiration. In Anne Arundel and Queen Anne’s counties, you can find many options that suit that purpose. Talk with employees about what you like and how hard it is to grow them in a home garden. They should be more than happy to help. After you have a plan in order, it’s time to get to work.

For a vegetable garden, there’s no end of literature available, including specifically for the Maryland and Chesapeake Bay area, or seeds that can be bought. Whichever you choose, the beginning of your gardening hobby begins in the same way.

• • Choose your location. Find a great place on your property where you can begin planting. Keep in mind that unless you only want ferns or other shade-loving plants, that most vegetables and flowers will need between six and eight hours of sunlight a day. We recommend picking a spot that you can easily see from a main window in your home. There’s nothing better than a morning enjoying a fresh cup of coffee and looking out at your amazing garden.

 

• • Choose your plants. Whether you opt for a vegetable or flower garden, decide what you want to plant. Key information includes the kind of sunlight, water and soil that meets the needs your plants have. The Annapolis area generally has a fine, sandy loam, so if you’re using existing soil, be sure your plants are well-suited for it.

 

• • Prepare your bed. Grab a spade and remove any sod. Test the soil for its natural pH levels. Your plants will have a specific pH range in which they grow best, so if your soil doesn’t cut it, you may have to purchase better soil from a nursery.

 

• • Plant your garden. Assess how deeply you need to plant and how much space each component needs to thrive. Plant accordingly and cover the bed with a hearty mulch. That will save water, cool the soil and prevent weeds.

 

• Maintain and enjoy. Water according to the plants’ needs, keep the bed clean and weed-free, and prune when necessary to keep a tip-top garden. That’s the fun part! You get to spend some time in nature and enjoy the fruits (or vegetables) of your labor. Congratulations! You officially have a green thumb.

 

We’re sure you’ll love having an outdoor garden. It brings a certain life to a property that cannot be replicated in any other way.

Our homes in Anne Arundel and Queen Anne’s counties have great lots and provide many exciting opportunities for starting a one-of-a-kind garden. If you’re in the area and looking for a new home, contact Koch Homes to set up a consultation.