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Gardening for Beginners: Expert Tips and Common Mistakes

Josh Salmon and a dog on the couch in home.
Planter Decor

Gardeners always seem happy. In fact, Psychology Today reports rummaging in soil and nosing flowers (mind those bee-bum stingers!) reduces stress, instilling a sense of well-being. Case in point: Mr. Content Himself — otherwise known as Scrappy Salmon. When the Goldendoodle’s not getting his hair permed at the salon, he’s out with his fur parent Josh Salmon, the Toronto-based gardening expert and landscape designer behind Planter Decor.  The duo spend hours in nature. And newbie or not you too can create your own slice of feel-good paradise. Read on for Josh’s advice on getting that garden growing.

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Planter Decor

Know Your Location

So, you’re at the garden centre faced with a glut of flora yelling “pick me! pick me!” Before piling up your shopping cart with plants, Josh recommends evaluating your garden’s setting: “Take time to understand your property and assess the terrain. Is your garden in the sun, shade, partial sun or partial shade?” Nailing your zone, or geographical area, helps when it comes to buying. Read the plant tags, matching your plant to your climate.  Tropical gardenias, for instance, look healthy in a nursery but are fleeting in a Toronto garden. (Love them anyway? Grab a pot for indoors.)

Related: 13 Must-See Botanical Gardens in Canada

Layering heights, textures and colours are striking this late-summer garden.
Planter Decor

Don’t Buy in Bloom

Josh wants you not to stop and smell the roses. March right by those showy hussies and choose a wallflower. The reason? “If you buy in bloom, your garden will briefly look good. Instead, look with a holistic overview,” he says. “No perennial or shrub blooms the entire season.” Research what the plant looks like year-round, considering the texture of the plant, its leaf colour and the shape of the plant. “In early spring, Forsythia comes alive with bright yellow flowers, but if you were to buy in the middle of the season it would be passed over because it’s a plain green shrub.” Ditto Silverleaf Dogwood, “a strong but sturdy hero,” as he describes it. “The leaves have a nice green and white foliage that turn a pinkish tinge in the fall. And wintertime it has beautiful bright-red stems that provide a great contrast to the snow.” In the late-summer garden, above, instead of flowers, layered heights, textures and colours have a striking quality.

Related: How to Start an Herb Garden for $60 or Less

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Consider Your Soil

“It all starts with your soil,” says Josh. And the soil in most backyards isn’t ideal. In Toronto, compact clay is the norm. It’s dense, so the drainage is poor, making it challenging for roots. And clay is often high PH, or alkaline, impeding plants from ingesting nutrients like iron and manganese. “Dig about six inches to test the soil. Is it hard to dig? Look at the texture. Is it heavily clay? Sandy? Take pictures to show the people at your garden centre,” says Josh. “You can amend the soil by adding peat loam or manure.” And if you’re doing major digging that’s a foot or more for trees, always do locates” (as in make sure you’re not hitting a gas line).

Related: 10 Summer Flowers That are Just as Pretty as Peonies

Baby Your Plants

Transferring a plant from its cozy container to  uncharted territory is a tad traumatic. It’s the first time your baby Hosta is hitting the big city, so be sure to plant it on a cooler or cloudy day, and not when the sun is blazing. Gently squeeze the container to release the plant supporting the base stem, and then shake off the dirt. Water right away so there aren’t any air pockets near the roots and then press the plant into the soil. It can take four weeks for the roots to flourish. If the sun is intense, cover the newbies with a fabric shield. And don’t forget to subsequently water!

Related: Here’s How to Plan the Best Layout for a Vegetable Garden

Planter Decor

When All Else Fails Reach for a Pot

If you’re the quick-fix type, a garden mostly made up of potted plants is the answer — but you’ll still have to deadhead the flowers and water regularly. Josh and Scrappy’s own home is heavy on curb appeal thanks to symmetrical urns laden in plant life. The gorgeously vivid arrangement relies on varying heights, colours and textures to create major drama. The spaghetti-like green stunners in the pots are Creeping Jenny, while the purple flowers are Scaevola and the pink beauties are Mandevilla. One mistake newer gardeners make is plopping a single wimpy plant into a container. Often too low or small, the plant gets lost in the planter. To avoid this, push a coiled noodle noodle from the dollar store into the base, add landscaper’s fabric — great for moisture retention and soil stabilization — and you’re good to go.

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Related: 10 Best Ways to Add More Privacy to Your Backyard Oasis



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