How to Garden a Dry Empty Yard Step-by-Step
Many new homeowners inherit a yard that's little more than a dry, dusty plot of weeds. The idea of turning this area into a lush and leafy garden may seem like an unobtainable dream, but it's really a matter of adapting the area to what your plants need. Decide what you want to grow in your garden, choose your spot and you can turn an empty lot into a useful and attractive backyard garden. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Shovel
- Wheelbarrow
- Compost
- Rake
- Seeds
- Seedlings
- Tomato cages
- Trellis or fencing
- Rain gauge or jar
Instructions
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Search your yard to find the ideal spot for your garden. If you have a chain-link fence, use the fence as one edge of your garden. Situate your garden plot in a spot that gets at least six hours of sunlight each day.
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Check with your local county extension service or look in Farmers' Almanac to find your area's last frost date in the spring. After the frost date, start checking to see if your soil has warmed enough to work. Do this by scooping up a small handful of dirt. Squeeze the dirt into a ball, then try to flick the ball apart. If if comes apart like cake, it's ready. If it stays in a mud ball, wait a week and try again.
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3
Dig out your garden plot 12 inches deep with a shovel. Remove the top layer with weeds and roots. Set this plant matter aside and use it to start a compost heap. Dig through the rest of the soil and remove any rocks or roots that you find. Pile the excess matter in a wheelbarrow for easier transport.
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4
Mix in a six-inch layer of compost to your garden soil. Mix the soil and compost thoroughly with a shovel, then rake the surface smooth.
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Water your garden plot until it is soaked, and let the water soak in for 24 hours.
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Plant seeds and seedlings in rows or in blocks. Position climbing plants like cucumber, zucchini and beans against the fence to take advantage of the free trellis. Set tomato cages around your tomato seedlings so they will fill the cages and not sprawl on the ground.
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Set out a rain gauge or marked glass jar near the garden. Check the gauge weekly to make sure your garden receives at least one inch of water every week. Add water to your garden every week to make up for any rain shortfalls.
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Keep your garden weeded to remove any weeds that can rob your plants of nutrients. Weed in your garden a couple of times a week to keep the job to a minimum.
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Pull up dead plants at the end of the year and place them on the compost heap. Dead and rotting plants can bring disease to your soil, so keep your garden clean.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Comstock/Getty Images
