Find Your Inner Green Thumb Around South Bend

Mother Nature isn't the only one who can make things grow. Our real estate agents enjoy using the bounty of their gardens to enrich their dinner plates and decorate their homes. Read these tips for starting your own garden and order supplies from these gardening centers offering delivery or curbside pickup near South Bend homes for sale.

How to Start a Garden

1. Pick Your Spot
   The Beatles had it right: follow the sun. Most plants need direct sunlight for at least six hours per day. The garden should also be close to a garden hose or other source of water. You may find the optimum spot is covered with sod that needs to be removed first.
   
   
2. Choose Your Plantings
   When it comes to deciding what to plant, your personal preferences will be the primary guideline. Go with fruits and vegetables you like to eat, or flowers that make you smile. But don't forget to consider elements such as growing season and conditions.
   
   
3. Design the Garden
   Johnny Appleseed may have randomly sown seed across the countryside, but it's not that simple in real life. First of all, determine whether you'll do flat-earth, container, or raised bed gardens. The next step involves creating the layout. Focus on maximizing the growing area, while allowing adequate space for each plant to develop and ensuring sufficient aisles for you to work. If you have limited space, square-foot or block planting is a good alternative to traditional row planting.
   
   
4. Treat the Soil
   You may be fortunate enough to have soil with the optimum texture and pH level to foster plants, but in many cases, you'll need to give nature a helping hand. Once you test the soil, either by yourself or through the local USDA cooperative extension, come up with a game plan for adding amendments such as compost, peat moss, vermiculite, or lime.
   
   
5. Plant Carefully
   Whether you use seeds or transplants, be sure to follow the instructions that accompany them. Seedlings need to stay damp, so water daily. Once they establish roots, water only as needed. A good test is to check the soil three to four inches below the surface. If it's dry, the plants need moisture.

Gardening Centers with Curbside Pickup or Delivery

• Martin's Greenhouse - 3614 W. Western Ave., South Bend, IN 46619
  Martin's Greenhouse is a family-run business dating back to the 1920s. Their website has an extensive user-friendly inventory list sorted into categories for convenient shopping. Save time and trouble by dropping off your own pots, and Martin's will create custom planters. Check the website for dedicated curbside pickup times. 
  
  
• Ginger Valley Garden Center - 15065 St. Rd. 23, Granger, IN 46530
  For more than 35 years, Ginger Valley Garden Center has been providing a comprehensive assortment of plants, tools, decor items and pet supplies to the community around Granger homes for sale. Check out their online tree store, offered in partnership with Bower & Branch. Use the handy online form to place an order for free curbside pickup or delivery at reduced fees. Hours are 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. weekdays, with additional curbside pickup on Saturday from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
  
  
• Not Just a Garden Center - 1502 S. Union, Mishawaka, IN 46544 
  Brett Parks, owner of Not Just a Garden Center, is a self-taught landscape artist. His experience gives him a deep understanding of what DIY gardeners need for success. Place an order for curbside pickup just minutes from Mishawaka homes for sale. Hours are 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Looking for more ways to boost the value of your home? Contact us at Cressy & Everett to learn more.