Tips for Creating a Healthy Garden

You know how frustrating it can be when your garden is failing to thrive. After all, you’ve put in so much time and effort only to watch your flowers and fruits wither on the vine. Whether it was powdery mildew that suffocated the leaves of your plants or root rot that destroyed them from below, we at West Hills Tractor are here to help. Check out the tips below for creating a heathy garden. For more information, visit us in Jonesborough, Tennessee, where we proudly serve Johnson City and Greeneville, Tennessee.

Keep Insects Away

Bugs do more than just chew up plants and make them ugly; they create havoc. Insect damage creates wounds that can allow viruses and bacteria to enter plants. If your garden is bug-free, great! But if not, do some research on the proper pesticides for the insects that are plaguing you. Bug populations must be controlled for your garden to thrive.

Ensure Space Between Each Plant

Keeping proper spacing between your plants ensures that air can flow freely between them. When the airflow stagnates, it creates an environment ideal for fungus and mold growth. Also, debris buildup and the lack of clean air can lead to plant diseases like iris leaf spot. Make sure to keep your garden hoed and clean.

Look Out for Damaged Limbs

If you start to notice a problem with damaged limbs and leaves, prune them off. Just like in animals, damaged limbs can cause disease to develop, first in the damaged limb and then in the entire plant.

Compost Properly

Different elements in the soil decompose at different rates. Make sure your soil is properly composted. When in doubt, keep that soil away from sensitive plants. It may still contain harmful bacteria and viruses.

Here are some additional tips. You should know what the ideal specimen of any plant should look like before you buy it. Never buy plants with dead spots, and always inspect the plant's root structure the best you can. Remember that to maintain your garden's health, you must avoid having your plants become hosts to potentially harmful organisms. Don’t transplant a possible infection into your otherwise healthy garden.

Also, you must create conditions in your garden that inhibit the spread of harmful organisms. Maintain proper airflow and ideal moisture. Put plants in their ideal location whether it’s shade or sun.

Here at West Hills Tractor, we have a full selection of affordable, high-quality farm equipment that you need to keep your garden healthy and thriving. Plus, our expertly trained staff also knows a thing or two about gardening. For more information, visit our location in Jonesborough, Tennessee, serving Johnson City and Greeneville, Tennessee.