I'M LATE! I'M LATE! FOR A VERY IMPORTANT DATE!

I'm not actually an Alice in Wonderland fan....

Anyway, I am two weeks late on an update because I am a terrible flake! BUT, in my defense, I've turned into a workaholic and I (eventually) always finish what I've started.
Anyone who lives in the Nevada area knows how unpredictable the weather can be. Especially when it comes to spring. We don't actually have a spring. Its more like Carson and surrounding areas can't decide whether or not its fully finished with winter so, our weather varies. These last two weeks have been mostly cold so, who wants to weed when its cold? NO ONE! :)

Today was finally decent enough to put on a goofy outfit and get to business. Regretfully, I've let my little piece of land become a mess. Completely overgrown with weeds and littered with rocks. Because of this, I have my work cut out for me. Weeding isn't the most enjoyable thing but its necessary for a healthy garden.

TOOLS:
- a hose to wet your soil

- a ratty pair of sneakers
- knee pads or a pad to kneel on
- gloves

- a bucket for the weeds (and a sweet puppy to help you out ;) )

- and something comfortable to wear. You are, after all, doing manual labor. I chose a cut off in hopes of getting my little arms some color and linen pants.

Once you have everything together you can start the weeding process! I started with soaking the first section of the planter I've chosen to weed. This helps greatly because the roots are more likely to give and come all the way up if the soil isn't hard as a rock, which it often is living in the desert. Don't over do it. You don't want to work in a mud puddle. You could, of course, always just use a hula hoe to weed but the chances of your garden being infested with weeds again is likely. Soak and give it five-ten minutes to start seeping into the ground. Afterward, you can begin! Grab weeds closest to the roots and pull those suckers up! Be careful not to pull up/ throw away too much of the top soil. Its the most important, after all. (See Dustbowl for the consequences of destroying the top soil.) 

Make sure you periodically give your knees and back a break. We don't want to hurt ourselves in the process! Gardening is supposed to be fun! :) 

                                                                        BEFORE:

AFTER:

Its not much but its a start! After I've gotten the planter mostly weeded, I'll go back through and pick out all the big rocks. OH, and wear sunblock if you burn easily! 

10 things

Unfortunately, I don't have any photos of progress of the little kids green house planter I've started. This is due to the fact that there hasn't been any progress. BUT! Its only been a week so, I won't worry too much that my green thumb isn't really so green.
Anyway, the weather is starting to warm up which means its time to start preparation for my planter in the back. And in honor of that, I have a list of ten things all gardeners should consider before starting a new planter.

1. Provide a level planting surface for your garden.  If you plant on an incline, you risk water runoff before it has the opportunity to soak into the soil and provide your garden with the nutrients that it needs.

2. Always loosen the soil before planting.  This allows the seeds or, if transplanting, the roots to attract and feed off of the soil's nutrients that are necessary for survival.

3. Do not plant anything too close to a wall or privacy fence.  A lack of air circulation from plants that are located too close to a wall or privacy fence increases the likelihood of a fungus buildup, which can destroy your garden.  Always keep plants 2-3 feet from the wall or fence and make sure to keep in mind the maturity size when planning for the proper space.

4. Know your region.  Your geographical location will have a large impact on what type of plants to include in your garden.  Study your climate, look at the life of various plants and determine which are best suited for your gardening needs before planting.

5. Consider the correct seed spacing when planting.  Did you know that the best spacing for your seeds depend greatly on how much room the mature plant will need?  It's true, so be sure to keep this in mind to avoid planting too closely and causing congestion in your garden.

6. Time is of the essence.  Although a gardener can water his/her garden at any time, most prefer the early morning hours when the air is still cool.

7. The correct watering method is important for your plant's health.  If you apply water directly to the soil, where your plant receives it nutrients, you will be helping your garden to thrive as opposed to pouring the water directly onto the plant itself.

8. If you are planting a flower garden, consider choosing plants that are known to attract butterflies and birds.  For specific plant types, consult a gardening expert or your local nursery.  Many gardeners enjoy their colorful plants combined with frequent visits from some of nature's most beautiful creatures, which makes for a picture perfect garden.

9. Take care of any home repairs that may affect your garden before planting.  Such possibilities include anything that may require digging or any disruption of the soil near your garden.

10. Assess your soil.  If you live in an area where the soil does not have enough nutrients for your garden, you can add synthetic or organic fertilizer to help your plants thrive. 

Before starting my planter in the back (picture will be uploaded!) I'm going to get my house plants started. I plan to move to L.A. in the near future with my boyfriend and our best friend so I obviously won't be able to take my garden with me and will want some color in the new apartment. I've already planted: 

                                                                  French Marigolds 

These bright flowers will add a really nice touch to any windowsill this summer! I've also got a package of Chinese Forget-Me-Nots and another package of Cosmos. I was going to plant them together because the blue mixed in with the red, orange, and yellow of the cosmos would have looked beautiful but sadly, one requires full sun and the other partial shade. *sigh* I'd also really love to grow some mint because it smells incredible! Imagine fresh mint infused frosting for cupcakes. My mouth is watering just thinking about it!

What flowers/ herbs are your favorite? Any must haves? 

i'm new!

I’m new to both blogging (consistently and not just on tumblr) and to gardening so, this is really exciting and nerve wracking for me. I’ve leafed through many gardening books in the last couple months in preparation for some serious gardening this summer. I’ve purchased seeds and pots and I now have a tiny plot of land in the backyard to start and watch my babies flourish. 

I don’t know how often I’ll update this.. I’ve been toying with once a week, probably every Sunday, to show the progress of both the potted plants/flowers as well as the ones I’ve planted in the back. I plan to go through every step and document it here with pictures and things of that nature. And by going through everything I mean weeding, buying proper tools (which I still need!), planting, watering, weeding still L, and the growths of all. I hope this is really informative and fun for all you readers. suggestions are always welcome!

With love (seeds & soil),

Keeley