Knowing how or where to start your garden can be intimidating for beginners, but never fear—we’re here to help pass on some helpful tips and tricks when it comes to planting one in Hawaii. From choosing the best plants to care and maintenance, here are a few of the most valuable gardening tips to make your Hawaii landscape shine.
1. Choosing the location
Whether you are designating a spot in your yard for a garden plot or using pots, the location of your garden matters. The Hawaii Backyard Conservation recommends choosing a level site to help avoid runoff and erosion. In addition, you will want to choose a location that is near your home, protected from strong winds, and is distant from large trees or shrubs that might steal water and nutrients from garden plants.
2. Deciding how much to plant
It’s easy to get a bit overambitious when thinking about your dream garden, but when you’re starting, it’s important to not bite off more than you can chew. For instance, don’t plant more than you can easily maintain and look after. According to the Hawaii Agricultural Experiment, some factors to consider when deciding how much of each item to plant are the size of the garden and the producing yield of the crop.
3. Choosing what to plant
After you’ve decided where to create your garden, the next step is deciding what you want to plant. Since Hawaii is known for being a plant paradise, there is a lot of flexibility when it comes to selecting. Root crops (such as kalo and sweet potatoes) and leafy greens (kale, lettuce, bok choy) are popular edible choices, while Hawaiin Gardenia and Bird of Paradise can add some tropical pizazz.
4. Taking care of your plants
Having a garden isn’t for the faint of heart, but the rewards can be well worth it and move your family towards a healthier, more sustainable lifestyle—not to mention add some beauty to your yard. Different variations of plants often require different levels of care, so it’s better to start small and focus on mastering the various tasks that come along with gardening first, such as planting, weeding, pest control, and soil preparation. Tackling these tasks will help maintain the health of your garden.
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