Getting a plant to respond well is something anyone can do - don't believe the myth of the green thumb. The only difference between you and those who seem to have them is that they know how to care for different types of plants. Several general steps are involved with getting the results you want, some of which you may have already been doing.



Getting your garden planted is not an easy job, and keeping your garden maintained can be another tricky subject altogether. If you are planning to create your own garden space, proper planning is essential. First, draw a diagram of the area in which you plan to plant your garden. This map of the landscape will be backbone of your plan. Be particularly conscious of sun and shade, dry and wet areas as these will be critical to your plant selection.

Now, begin your gardening by selecting the large shrubs and trees that will be permanent fixtures in your yard. Note their height, distinctive shade, and sunny areas. You decide how much sun or shade you want the areas of your yard to have by your choice of which plants to place.

Then, begin selecting the individual plants you want in your garden. Always remember that you are the one who will be looking at these plants and taking care of them. So choose the plants that make you happy and that you want to give attention to and care for. And of course, be mindful of the climate in your area - plants which thrive in hot sunny climes may not do as well when the winter chills set in up north.

Each kind of plant will have its own water needs, such as frequency of watering and amount of water. For easier care, put plants with similar water requirements near each other. Fertilizing plants will help plants to grow faster and protect against damage. Landscape plants respond very well to fertilizers with a high percent of slow-release organic nitrogen, which ensures that plants reach their full potential for deep, green color. Be sure to consider the condition of the root system.

When attempts at gardening fail, it is often not because people took poor care of their plants, but rather that they chose their plants without taking into consideration the specifics of soil type, temperature zone, and climate that will dictate how well plants will plants do in the area. It's a good idea to visit your local garden center and peruse the catalogs to look for those plants that fill your needs and can thrive in your local environment and climate.

And while you're there, ask a lot of questions. Garden centers tend to attract plant-lovers and experts who really want to help.