A great way to motivate your staff, promote teamwork and encourage participation is to start an outdoor garden. Apart from the numerous health benefits, adding plants to offices can be one of the finest ways to improve creativity and mood.
The best part is that it doesn't have to be something big straightaway.
Even if you're cursed with a black thumb, let's turn it around. Here are 10 practical and easy gardening tips for beginners.
10 Gardening Tips for Beginners
Pick the right spot
Like real estate, starting a healthy garden is all about the location. Whether you're looking to set up a garden on the balcony, roof-top, or create a living wall, this is true.
Picking the right spot helps ensure proper sunlight, drainage, and shade for your plants. That, in turn, makes your garden healthier and long-lasting.
Know the intensity of sunlight required for each plant
Sun is energy and one of the most important elements for your plants. If you're looking for that lush foliage and colorful flowers, you need to pay attention to the ideal sunlight intensity for each plant.
Plants like peace lilies, coral bells, and dead nettle prefer shade or indirect sunlight. So while sunlight is beneficial, too much of it might be a bit overwhelming.
Make a watering schedule
Water helps bring nutrients to the plants and hydrate them. However, overwatering can lead to soggy roots and drown them. It's a delicate balance you need to perfect whether using a garden hose or a sprinkler.
Try to maintain a regular watering schedule depending on the plant type and conditions. Ensure there are holes in the plant pot to let it drain well.
Go for rich soil
Soil doesn't only act as an anchor for your plants, it's also their source of oxygen, nitrogen, beneficial bacteria, and nutrient.
Therefore, the best thing you can do is invest in nutrient-rich soil that's also well-drained. There's no one soil that's ideal for every plant. Each has a different need that should be considered before picking the soil to use.
Start small if you're a beginner
If you're a beginner and just starting to pick up gardening as a hobby, small is the way to go. It's better to start with the smaller, forgiving plants that are easy to maintain.
Think of landscape rose, Japanese forest grass, or coral bells. These are small and versatile plants that are easy to care yet their bright flowers and beautiful foliage can light up any space.
Watch out for pests
It's not uncommon to have pests in your garden. While most of them are safe for your plants, some can be extremely threatening. They are often the carriers of dangerous diseases, suck sap from stems and destroy the chlorophyll in the leaves.
Looking out for aphids and slugs can help protect your garden and save you worries.
Use containers if you have space constraints
Container plants can be a great choice when space is hard to come by. They are easy to manage, save time and create the perfect growing conditions for individual plants— everything a beginner at gardening would want.
Containers also make for a great choice if you're starting with perennials or ornamental grasses. They let you try combinations.
Remember to prune
Pruning is an unavoidable step when taking care of a garden. Dead or diseased shoots damage your plant. Giving your plants an occasional prune removes these unwanted parts and keeps your garden compact and youthful.
However, pruning is not just about placing a cut. It involves knowing which plants need a trim and when. That helps in keeping your garden healthy and fresh.
Know the zone
If you're ditching containers and going the old-fashioned way, then remember to know about your "zone". It's a common term that refers to the hardiness of the soil.
The colder the place, the lower zone number it would have. Knowing about your zone helps you understand the suitable plants for your soil. It saves toil later on.
Don't ever forget composting (It's just as important)
The final point every wannabe gardener must remember is to never skip on compost. They add texture and fertility to the soil, both of which are brilliant for your plants. On top of that, compost is a rich source of nutrients and beneficial bacteria. You don't want to miss out on that.
Why Your Office Needs A Garden?
Appealing Landscape to Attract Clients
The look of your business can have a positive psychological impact when attracting customers.
A nicely manicured garden speaks of professionalism and trust. The natural light and soothing color make a memorable entrance and help you stand out. It also helps create an immediate impact on customers, still deliberating whether to come in.
Helpful for Employees
Working for long hours in a cubicle is bound to make your employees feel exhausted. A garden or a multi-use patio can give them some space to relax and unwind.
The bright and sunny conditions also help with stress and feeling re-energized. These are great signs for an employer as a relaxed workforce is a productive workforce.
Great for Students
Gardens make for a great addition to the landscape in schools and colleges. With all the greenery and lush lawn, it can be a healthy respite for students and give them enough motivation to step outside.
A green campus like that makes for a better studying environment. It helps improve the pupils' mental health while encouraging communication and interaction.
Lastly…
Nestle your garden with some add-ons. It can be an extremely purposeful design.
It creates an anchor point and allows you to design the garden around it. That might include placing flower beds or setting up some chairs.
Even simple garden décor can be a strong visual element and attract guests or visitors. Fountains or water troughs are great for this purpose. You can choose to leave them bare or cover them up partially with some vines or potted plants. There's vast room for creativity here.
