My husband and I have been in our new house for a year and a half, and it's time to tackle the front yard! Currently, it's just grass with no landscaping at all. We've planted a few small plants, like dwarf gold thread cypress and a quirky tree my husband picked out called Sea Green Juniper Pom Pom. We've also tried dwarf Alberta spruces but realized they might grow too big for our small ranch-style home. With all the work we put into preparing the land, I'm worried that I'll end up killing the plants. It feels like I might just have to start over next year! I tend to over-research everything while my husband just goes with the flow, so I'm feeling anxious about the whole process. Oh, and I'm also 21 weeks pregnant, which complicates things since I can't do as much heavy work. Has anyone else felt this overwhelmed when starting their garden?
4 Answers
Oh, I completely understand how you feel! It can be super overwhelming at first. I still have days where I'm not sure if I’m doing it right. Gardening is a lot like life; you plant things, and sometimes they make it, sometimes they don't. But it's all about learning from each experience. Plus, a good tip for beginners is to focus on improving the soil instead of relying on fertilizers. Healthy soil leads to healthier plants!
You really don’t need to dig a whole lot during your pregnancy! And remember, it’s perfectly fine if you don't have a fully established garden right away. Sometimes it's best to just pick one small project to focus on each year. Let your husband handle the digging this summer, and if he wants to plant more, that’s on him. Just take it easy!
Trust me, we’ve all felt that overwhelm at some point. Not every plant will thrive, and that’s just part of it! If you prepped your soil well, many of your plants will do great. Dwarf Alberta spruces are usually fine at about 6-10 feet tall, and you can manage their size with pruning. They’re great for Christmas too! So don't stress too much about their size. Just make sure you plant everything with its mature size in mind, and keep those weeds at bay. Good luck with your garden!
Exactly! Keeping it small is key. You’ll have something exciting to look forward to during the next gardening season.