Gardening Basics

Fertilizing is important to maintain healthy growth and acceptable appearance. Under natural forest conditions, dead leaves, needles and twigs break down to provide a fresh resource of minerals for plants to use. Landscapes don’t have this natural fertilization and need nutrients added back to the soil.

**high pH soils of southern Idaho often do not have enough S, Fe, Zn and Mn.

Picking the right fertilizers

• Use the historical recommendations found in many garden publications or the results of a soil test.
• The most reliable way is a soil test.
• Your county Extension educator can provide instructions for taking a soil sample and ordering the test.
• Using soil tests results for garden fertilization

Other excellent fertilizer guides

• Fertilizing gardens
• Master Gardener Handbook Chapter 5, Soils and fertilization (PDF)
• Fertilizing your garden, Oregon State University

Fertilizing in a landscape is complicated — different plants have different nutrient requirements

• Fertilizing landscape trees (PDF)
• Growing strawberries
• Northern Idaho lawns
• Southern Idaho lawns
• Beans and peas
• Potato production in the home garden

Tools are essential for establishing and caring for a garden. They are necessary for soil preparation, planting, cultivation, manicuring plants, irrigation, applications of fertilizers and pesticides, and in some cases harvesting. The type of equipment needed depends on a number of factors, including the garden size, physical abilities of the gardener, time dedicated to gardening and budget.

There are many tools, both hand-operated and power-driven, available to assist both novice and seasoned gardeners. The most commonly used tools include hoes, shovels, trowels, all of which come in several forms for different applications. There are also spading forks, tillers, shredders, pruning shears, loppers, tillers and other specialized tools. Once you have a little gardening experience you will be better able to decide which tools fit your personal tastes, situation and objectives.

The Idaho Master Gardener Handbook, chapter 6 (PDF) discusses tool selection and care with illustrations.

Dr. Leonard Perry, University of Vermont, describes his preferences when using garden hand tools.

Watering a landscape or garden is not simple.

Many factors affect water needs

• Climate
• Water availability
• Weather
• Topography
• Plant type
• Soil type
• Irrigation system type

Many homeowners end up over-watering, wasting their money and precious natural resources.

• Watering home lawns and landscapes (PDF)
• 4 steps to save water and have a healthier lawn (PDF)
• Small farms irrigation management, Utah State University
• Hardy plants for waterwise landscapes, Washington State University

Organic vegetable gardening promotes and enhances natural diversity and biological cycles. Rather than relying on synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, organic gardening is based on making the garden self-sufficient and sustainable, using mechanical and natural alternatives to chemicals.

See Integrated Pest Management website for more information.

• Idaho Master Gardener Handbook Chapter 25: Organic gardening (PDF)
• How to reduce bee poisoning from pesticides (PDF)
• Reading and understanding pesticide labels

Proper soil preparation will provide your plants with most of their basic nutritional needs.

Ideal soil

• Deep
• Friable
• Well-drained
• High in organic matter

Good soil will promote seed germination and optimal growth of plants.

Soil care

• Proper tillage
• Adding amendments
• Proper fertilization
• Proper irrigation

More about soils

• Soil Preparation Basics (PDF)
• Master Gardener Handbook Chapter 5 (PDF)
• How to Prepare a Garden: Soil Prep Video

Pesticides can be an effective tool when used appropriately and only as needed. Always read the label.

See the Integrated Pest Management website for more information.

Recommended publications

• Idaho Master Gardener Handbook Chapter 9: Using pesticides safely (PDF)
• Pesticides for the home garden and how to use them (PDF)
• Citizen’s Guide to Pest Control and Pesticide Safety EPA