Posted May 19, 2022
The art of gardening has welcomed a fresh following since the pandemic began, so MetroGreen has taken the opportunity to educate the masses on proper garden bed care.
Our range of gardening tools includes everything from forks and spades to lawn rollers and hedge clippers, ensuring you have the confidence to keep your garden looking good.
But what will you use your garden bed for? How much time can you spare? What season suits you and your plants best?
There’s plenty to consider when it comes to proper garden bed care, but fear not. MetroGreen is your go-to guide on this new and exciting journey.
The pandemic and supply shortages that have come with it have led people to become more self-sufficient for their fruit and veg. For those with the patience and attentiveness to succeed, plenty of time and money can be saved by growing your own produce.
If you plan to grow vegetables, there are several things to consider in the pros and cons column.
Growing vegetables typically requires more space, as they have more complex root systems compared to many flowers which can thrive in small pot plants.
Many vegetables such as tomatoes or zucchinis involve growing a whole bushy plant to produce a worthy harvest, while some flowers comprise a considerable part of their plant.
Vegetables also need more sun than flowers to create the final product, so consider when the sun is shining and where in your prospective garden plot.
If your garden doesn’t allow for either of these factors, it may be best to opt for a flower bed.
Growing flowers involves a simpler watering regime than vegetables, with anytime between 6am and 10am satisfying most species.
Flowers also don’t attract nearly as many pests as vegetables, but their pollen will naturally attract bees so it’s best to consider any allergies of those around you.
If you opt for a vegetable garden and have the space to do so, this will likely involve building or installing a raised garden bed. These provide various benefits to your plants, including better water retention and drainage, less soil compaction underfoot, and less weeds.
Most raised garden beds will be built using galvanised steel or hardwood planks. Either option comes with its own safety risks so be sure to visit Metrogreen for a sturdy pair of gardening gloves.
Once built, research what kind of soil will best suit your plants’ needs and invest in some slow-release fertiliser tablets to give your garden the best chance at survival over the next 2 years.
Not everyone can spend hours in their garden each day, so consider your own schedule before committing to a high maintenance vegetable like sweet potato or onions.
Some examples of low maintenance vegetables include beetroot, radish, chilli and salad leaves like rocket, lettuce or spinach.
Make sure to also put some research into which plants grow in which season. There’s nothing more deflating than putting time and effort into planting a tomato at the end of winter (tomato picking season) and coming up empty.
When it does come time to pick the vegetables of your labour, make sure to invest in a snazzy pair of secateurs. A nice clean snip will do wonders for your plant compared to yanking at it over and over.
And once your plants have run dry, don’t be afraid to start again with a fresh crop. This will involve digging out the old roots, refurbishing your soil and livening up the place.
We’re so confident you’ll be satisfied with our products, we offer a 100% money-back guarantee on all returns made within 14 days.
If you’re ever in doubt about the gardening process or any of the above, don’t hesitate to contact MetroGreen for all your garden care advice.
We have vast experience in gardens across New Zealand and are dedicated to welcoming even more gardeners to our humble community.