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Gardening made simple

• Sun.  Plants use sunlight in photosynthesis method to produce growth and sustainability.  Monitor your garden site throughout the days and different seasons (angle of the sun change with the seasons) to determine sun and shady area.  Some plants will require full sun, and some will want only partial sun, while some will want mostly shade.  When you are making your selection of what plants you will want to plant, consider its location.

• Soil.  Building healthy soil is a foundation of gardening.  Most plants grow in loamy quality soil; soil that is thick enough to hold on to water and nutrients, and also thin enough to allow roots to take hold.  Create loamy soil by add organic matter to your planting soil throughout the growing season and allow it to decompose.  Organic matter includes non-chemically treated grass clippings, plant cuttings, thinned seedlings, weeds that have not gone to seed, and compost.  Good soil for planting composes of a balance of 4 elements:  Nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and pH. A pH measures the general chemistry of a substance on scale of 0 -14.  Most plants prefer the soil to have a balance pH of a little less than 7.  Purchase a soil testing kit from your local hardware store or garden supplies and test your soil for its components during the growing season.  Fix the soil so it will be beneficial to your plants.  Determine the level of acid or alkaline, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in the soil you are planning to grow.  A pH greater than 7 means you have alkaline soil.  Add sulfur to remedy the soil.  A pH lowers than 7 means the soil is acidic.  Add lime to fix the problem.  N for nitrogen is the element that promotes growth in the green parts of plants such as leaves and stems.  Too much nitrogen makes plants grow too quickly resulting in restricting fruit growth and slow root development.  This may be caused by over fertilization.  Stop using fertilizer.  Low nitrogen in the soil means to use a nitrogen rich fertilizer.  P for phosphorus promotes root growth.  If your soil shows low phosphorus, add super phosphate or bone meal to your soil.  High phosphorus levels probably cause by using too much high phosphate.  Use plants that will use up the excess phosphate.  Consult your local plant nurseries for suitable type of plants for you.  Excess phosphorus in the soil can get into ground water and cause serious pollution problem.  K for potassium is important to general health of the plants, especially the oldest parts of the plants.  Soil with low potassium level needs added wood ashes.  High potassium means do not use potassium rich fertilizers and it needs additions of nitrogen and phosphorus to help balance the soil.

• Water.  Many plants need about an inch of water a week.  To check the moisture level of your plant’s soil, stick your finger an inch deep into the soil.  Water only as needed.  In a large garden, use a soaker hose to deliver water to the plants’ roots while keeping the rest of the plant dry, which help to prevent the spread of disease and economize the use of water.