Suffering From Brown-Thumb Syndrome? Here's How To Turn It Green
Posted on: 21 January 2020
If you're one of those people who've never seemed to be able to get anything to grow, you're certainly not alone. Some people seem to have what's commonly known as a green thumb, which means that their yard and garden areas always present an attractive appearance. On the other hand, others have what's often jokingly referred to as a brown thumb, which means that anything they try to grow withers up and dies in short order after being planted. However, even though it may seem otherwise, no one is born with a green thumb, and no one has to be doomed to living with a brown thumb all of their lives.
Most people with brown thumbs simply don't have enough experience to make their plants thrive. Like everything, gardening is something that requires a significant amount of acquired knowledge and skills, and the great majority of those with brown thumbs simply never gave their thumbs a chance to turn green. You don't have to spend years studying botany to create an appealing yard, though.
The following are three common-sense shortcuts designed to make that brown thumb green.
Fill Flower Beds, Planters, Hanging Baskets, and Windowboxes With Flowering Annuals
One of the issues fledgling gardeners struggle with the most is getting perennials to thrive. Perennial borders are notoriously tough to get established and usually take at least three years before they reach their full potential, but annuals are designed by nature to grow quickly, bloom, and set seed within the course of the summer. Annuals bloom early in the growing season and keep blooming until the frost. They're also low-maintenance — just keep them watered, and they'll reward you with a profusion of vibrant flowers.
Plant Native Trees and Shrubs
Trees and shrubs that are native to your particular area perform much better than imported varieties because they're already acclimated to local soil and climate conditions as well as have a natural resistance to regional pathogens and insect pests. After they're established, they generally thrive with no extra water, except in times of drought.
Apply Mulch
Mulch gives the yard and garden area a finished appearance that bare dirt simply can't provide. The kind of mulch you choose depends on the overall effect you want to present. For a natural look, you can choose chocolate brown mulch. Mulch made from organic materials slowly releases nutrients into the soil, protects fragile plant roots from getting too hot or too cold by adding an insulating layer, helps prevent weed seeds from sprouting, and helps hold water in the soil.
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