Backyard Garden Tips + Native Plants!

I was always in a garden growing up! My mom kept one in our backyard and my nanny always had one.

I remember how fun it was to harvest what we grew (my favorite were the cucumbers!)

I started gardening myself in college. I used pots on my balcony to plant herbs, tomatoes, and jalapeños - all great plants for beginners and urban gardeners! However, when I started planting at my first home, I realized my plants were not surviving for long. I would get one good harvest and then my plants would die!

So, I started researching native plants, our local soil and climate and decided it was time for some changes.

Here’s what I learned and hopefully it’ll help you with gardening season in full swing:

🪴 To plant or to pot?

Our yard is CLAY! Clay is great because it has a lot of natural nutrients plants need - however when we combine our clay soil with the amount of rain we get PLUS the amount we were watering…we were drowning our plants! Clay suffers from difficult drainage because it’s very compact. So to go safer and a little less work - we decided to pot!

🪴 Source your plants locally!

These plants are acclimated to your climate and conditions! They require less work, are less expensive, and take less time to acclimate!

🪴 Companion Planting!

There are TONS of charts on companion planting on Pinterest! For example, you should plant your tomatoes with basil! Add lavender and marigolds to attract pollinators and repel unwanted pests!

🪴 Have fun!

I’ve always planted the same things, so this year I decided to try some new plants out! This keeps it fun and exciting. Step out of your comfort zone and don’t be afraid of failure!

I hope this helps someone who is planning on gardening or has been considering it! Comment some of your tips - I love hearing it! #springaesthetic #garden2023 #gardenaesthetic #gardenvibes #gardenlife