Garden Preparation Basics

There are basic things that need to be done in the garden, including the kids' garden. Weeding, planting and sowing are common events that take place in garden preparation. But when you are starting out, the bare garden seems troubling and overwhelming at times. The kids usually want to get right in there and garden, but there are some things that need to be done before you and the kids start gardening this year.

Chores
When kids hear the word "chores," they might immediately try to scramble their way out of it. But letting them know the importance of chores in garden preparation can help get the jobs done that need to get done.

Common chores to prepare the garden for the coming growing season are tilling, soil amendments, weeding and perhaps some harder labor such as building new beds and cleaning.

Give incentives for the chores done and accomplished. If kids want their own gardens with their own selections of plants, they need to know there are basic chores that have to be done. We don't always enjoy them but they are a vital part of the garden's survival.

Cleaning tools
Cleaning garden tools is an important garden preparation chore that kids should do every year. The tools should be inspected for any rust or damage and then washed thoroughly in hot, soapy water. Some people use bleach, but since it's for kids it isn't recommended because of the dangers bleach can pose.

Tool cleansing helps keep the tools in better condition longer and helps prevent diseases from spreading across the garden.

Container cleaning
If the kids are container gardening, cleaning out the containers used is another common chore that might have to be done. Cleaning the containers helps prevent disease from spreading in the garden.

Clean the containers out the same way as the tools, with hot and soapy water. Make sure you rinse completely as you wouldn't want dish detergent left on the containers.

Soil
The soil from year to year is constantly depleted of necessary nutrients either from runoff (from water) or use from plants. Some plants give back to the soil when they die. Some do not.

Adding new soil and new amendments such as cow manure or compost each year is an important chore that must be done. Some kids love to dig in the dirt while others may not. If your child is one to dig in the dirt and ask questions later, then allow them to be the ones who add in the amendments and mix it completely. If the kids do not like the dirt as much, then you can pour in the amendments and ask them to use a rake or digging tool so their hands don't touch the soil.

Seeds and transplants
Even though much of the earlier garden preparation leans to the chore part of gardening, decisions have to be made. These decisions can be intimidating, especially for a young child just starting on an adventure in gardening. A main decision will be whether to start by seed or plants (commonly called transplants).

Seeds are the cheapest method to start the garden but they take longer. For kids, that could seem an eternity. But they do have other benefits. The kids can see the whole process of growth from the very beginning and it can be quite entertaining and illuminating.

Starting with transplants can start the garden off quickly and the kids will see results quicker than by seed.

Some plants do better as transplants and some do better as seeds. Plants such as carrots and lettuce that don't take to transplanting well are better started by seed directly sown into the garden. Tomatoes and peppers do much better by transplants.

The climate can play a big part in this decision, as some places don't have a long growing season and the garden has to be planted with transplants rather than by seed. Have kids do some research on the types of plants that grow best in your region.