Spring is in full swing, and many people are turning their attention to sprucing up their gardens for the summer – so we want to know: what are your best gardening tips?
When it comes to taking care of the garden, it can often feel like there’s a thousand decisions to make and jobs to stay on top of all the time. Are beds or pots better? Is it worth trying to grow your own fruit and veg or other greens? Do you like to feed the birds or have you been pigeon-proofing your feeders? The list is endless.
In the end, the best way to garden is the way you prefer to do it – what is easiest for you, or what you feel you can spare the most time to focus on. Some people like to sow their own seeds or plant bulbs to get that burst of colour when the weather warms up, but some prefer to buy plants that have already started growing and fit them into their own beds or pots.
For many, the most important part of the garden is the furniture. Metal or wood, plastic or wicker, there are many styles to choose from – and once again, the main thing is to always choose something you are prepared to look after. Some might prefer to forgo garden furniture ewntirely and make it a lush, green wonderland for local wildlife.
Speaking of local wildlife, that can be a whole other can of worms. Some people feel strongly that leaving out food for garden birds is necessary for their survival – and it’s something the RSPB like to encourage. However, there have been discussions particularly when it comes to pigeons – wood pigeons and common pigeons (rock doves) can appear in large numbers, and some people prefer to pigeon-proof their bird feeders specifically to keep them out.
Others have concerns about food for birds attracting rats and foxes, and some have concerns about increased numbers of birds being targeted by any local outdoor cats. So even trying to help out the UK’s garden birds can be a total minefield.
One particular headache in recent years has been the debate over using natural products in gardens versus stronger stuff. While they can be a menace for many plants, slugs and snails are important wildlife who serve a purpose in gardens – but some stop at nothing to remove the creatures before they eat everything in sight.
All in all, there’s an overwhelming amount of decisions to make when it comes to gardening, and a thousand different ways to get it done whether you’re green-fingered or a total newcomer.
So we want to know – what are your best gardening tips? Share with us in the comments below, and be sure to join The Mirror’s new gardening community on WhatsApp – join here. We’ll then round up the best reader tips and share them online.
