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How to Start a New Garden

By , About.com Guide

9 of 10

Garden Maintenance - What to Expect

Maintainging Your GardenPhoto: © Marie Iannotti (2008) licensed to About.com, Inc.
Hopefully when you were selecting plants you did some background checking and didn't select too many prima donnas. All plants are going to require some maintenance. The idea that perennial plants require less maintenance than annuals is wrong.
  • At the very least, your plants will require 1 inch of water a week. If it rains regularly, good for you. If not, don't let your plants get drought stressed. Once a plant is stressed it will never recover fully that growing season.

  • There will also be weeding to do. Weed seeds come from all kinds of sources: wind, birds, soil on shoes...

  • Deadheading or removing the spent blossoms from your flowers, will keep them blooming longer and looking fresher. Vegetables will produce more if you keep harvesting while young.

  • Some taller plants may need to be staked, to keep from flopping.

It may happen that one of your choices isn't happy and dies. Move on and replace it with something else.

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  5. Garden Maintenance - What to Expect

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