Summertime coming to an end means it’s time to get outside with your kiddos before the school year begins! Teaching kids to garden can be a wonderful and educational experience. It not only helps them develop a love for nature but also teaches them about responsibility, patience, and the importance of sustainable practices. Keep on reading for our guide on how to teach your kids to garden!

Here’s Our Step-By-Step Guide On How To Teach Your Kids To Garden:

1. Start With The Basics Of Gardening

Introduce your kids to the concept of gardening. Explain how plants grow, the role of sunlight, water, and nutrients, and why plants are essential for our environment.

2. Choose A Suitable Gardening Space In Your Yard

Depending on the available space, you can select an outdoor garden plot, a raised bed, or even a few containers. Ensure the area receives adequate sunlight for the plants you plan to grow.

3. Select Age-Appropriate Plants For Your Kids

Involve your kids in selecting plants to grow. Choose varieties that are easy to grow and maintain, such as herbs, flowers, or vegetables like lettuce, radishes, or cherry tomatoes. Consider their preferences and encourage them to grow plants they find interesting or enjoy eating.

4. Plan And Prepare The Garden Soil

Teach your kids about the importance of good soil. Show them how to prepare the soil by removing weeds, loosening it with a garden fork or spade, and adding compost or organic matter to improve fertility. Explain why healthy soil is essential for plant growth.

5. Involve Your Kiddos In The Planting

Let your kids take an active part in planting the seeds or seedlings. Show them how to make small holes in the soil, place the seeds or seedlings gently, and cover them with soil. Teach them about proper spacing and depth requirements for each plant.

6. Have A Schedule For The Watering And Maintenance

Explain the importance of watering and how to do it correctly. Teach them to water the plants at the base, near the roots, rather than from above. Involve them in creating a watering schedule and demonstrate how to check soil moisture levels using their fingers.

7. Teach Your Kids About Weeding And Pest Control

Show your kids how to identify and remove weeds from the garden. Explain why weeds can compete with plants for resources and affect their growth. Additionally, educate them about common garden pests and how to deal with them using organic methods, like handpicking or introducing beneficial insects.

8. Encourage Your Kids To Observe And Journal About Their Garden

Encourage your kids to observe the changes in their garden over time. Provide them with a journal or notebook to document their observations, including plant growth, flowering, and any pests or diseases they encounter. This will help them learn about plant life cycles and understand the importance of regular care.

9. Harvest And Enjoy The Fruits Of Their Labor

Once the plants are ready for harvest, involve your kids in the process. Teach them how to properly pick fruits, vegetables, or flowers and discuss the importance of harvesting at the right time. Encourage them to taste and enjoy the fresh produce they’ve grown.

10. Celebrate Their Success In Your Garden

Acknowledge and celebrate your kids’ gardening accomplishments. Display their artwork or photographs of the garden, host a mini-garden party, or involve them in cooking meals using their harvested produce. This positive reinforcement will encourage their continued interest and passion for gardening.

Remember, gardening with kids is a continuous learning experience, so be patient and provide guidance along the way. As they become more comfortable, you can gradually assign them more responsibilities and involve them in more complex gardening tasks.

Have questions about how you can build a garden with your kids? Stop by Whispering Springs to get the answers and get started!

Gardening and landscaping can be a great way to spruce up your outdoor space during the Georgia summer months. Whether you’re looking to cultivate fruits, vegetables, or colorful blooms, it can be tricky to get the best results. To help you make the most of your garden this summer, we’ve put together a list of four tips for summer gardening success. Read on to learn how to ensure your garden is flourishing this season!

1. Fertilize

One of the most important things you can do for your summer garden is to fertilize your plants regularly. This helps to provide the necessary nutrients for healthy growth and strong blooms. It’s especially important to fertilize in the spring before planting, as well as throughout the growing season. Be sure to choose a fertilizer that is appropriate for your specific plants, and follow the instructions carefully to avoid over-fertilizing. Overall, fertilizing is a key step in achieving a successful summer garden.

2. Water regularly

Once you’ve planted your garden, it’s crucial to keep it hydrated. Watering your plants regularly will help them grow strong and healthy. During the spring and summer months, your plants will require more water due to the warmer temperatures and increased sunlight. 

It’s essential to make sure your garden is receiving the appropriate amount of water, as both overwatering and underwatering can damage your plants. Check your soil regularly to ensure it’s moist but not saturated. Depending on the climate you’re in and the type of plants you’re growing, you may need to water them once or twice a week or every day. 

Proper watering is also crucial for lawn maintenance, especially during the hot summer months. Water your lawn early in the morning or late in the evening when the sun is low, as this will help prevent the water from evaporating too quickly. Additionally, try to avoid watering your lawn during windy weather, as the water will likely evaporate before it reaches the soil. With a little effort, you can enjoy a beautiful and bountiful garden all summer long!

3. Prune

Pruning is the process of trimming away dead or overgrown branches, stems, or leaves to promote healthy growth and improve the appearance of your plants. This is an important step in maintaining the health and vitality of your garden

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When pruning, it’s essential to use the right tools and techniques to prevent damage to the plant. For shrubs and trees, use pruning shears, loppers, or a pruning saw to remove any dead, diseased, or damaged branches. For smaller plants, use scissors or garden snips. One of the primary reasons for pruning is to encourage the growth of new branches and leaves. By cutting back the old growth, you’ll stimulate the plant to produce fresh shoots, which will result in a healthier, fuller plant.

Pruning is also an excellent way to maintain the shape and size of your plants. By removing excess growth, you can prevent your plants from becoming too large and taking over your garden. It’s important to remember that pruning can be stressful for plants, so it’s important not to overdo it. Prune no more than 1/3 of the plant at a time, and avoid cutting into the main stem or trunk of the plant. With the right pruning techniques, you can promote healthy growth and create a beautiful garden this summer. 

4. Add mulch

Another great tip for summer gardening success is to add mulch to your plants. Mulch can provide a number of benefits for your garden, including regulating soil temperature, preventing weed growth, retaining moisture, and improving soil quality.

There are a variety of different types of mulch you can use, including organic materials like straw, leaves, or grass clippings, as well as inorganic materials like rocks or gravel. Depending on your preference and the needs of your garden, you can choose the type of mulch that works best for you. When adding mulch to your garden, make sure to spread it evenly around your plants, leaving a little bit of space around the stem to prevent rotting. You should aim to add about 2-3 inches of mulch to your garden beds, and be sure to refresh the mulch periodically throughout the season as it breaks down. By adding mulch to your garden, you’ll be providing a protective layer that can help your plants thrive, even in the hottest summer temperatures. 

Now go grab your gardening tools, put these tips to action,  and get to work on creating the garden of your dreams! If you need support, Whispering Springs is here to help. Contact us for more information on our yard maintenance services! 

Are critters getting to your garden? Keeping them out of your garden can be a challenge, but it doesn’t have to be. With some simple lawn maintenance and critter-proofing measures, you can make sure your garden is free of unwanted visitors. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at how to effectively critter-proof your garden and make sure it stays healthy and free of pests.

3 Ways To Critter Proof Your Garden

1. Build A Fence

One of the most effective methods to critter proof your garden is to build a fence around it. The fence you build should be strong enough and high enough to keep out any small critters. It is important to make sure the fence is installed correctly to ensure it is critter proof and that no holes are left open for small critters to get in.

      2. Use The Proper Mulch

Not only is mulch beneficial for lawn maintenance and landscaping, but it also provides a way to discourage any animals that may be looking to snack on your garden. From deer to rabbits and other smaller critters, mulch can serve as a natural barrier that helps protect your plants. With various types of mulch available, it’s important to do some research on which type works best in keeping the critters away. There are organic and inorganic types, so you will want to make sure you understand what’s best for your particular garden.

      3. Use Repellents

Repellents are the last line of defense when it comes to keeping critters away from your garden. Whether you’re dealing with deer, rabbits, or squirrels, there are a variety of products available to help protect your landscaping and lawn maintenance efforts. In the spring and summer months, many repellents have natural ingredients that create an unpleasant odor and taste that can repel pests away from your garden. Make sure to follow all directions when using any repellent in order to ensure safety and the best results. With proper application and regular reapplication, these repellents can help make sure your hard work in the garden isn’t destroyed by hungry critters!

Keep your garden beautiful this spring and summer by keeping critters out! Need some help critter proofing your garden? Contact us for a custom critter keep away solution that works best for your yard’s needs!

The greenest of yards in the spring are made in the winter. Spring will be here before you know it! Are you ready? If you haven’t started already, now is the time to start prepping your yard for the spring. Start preparing your lawn now to make sure it looks great all spring long!

Here are some things you can do to prepare your yard for spring:

• Clear out debris and plant matters
• Cover all of your shrubs and plants with a frost covering, and be sure to remove the frost covering once chance for frosting has passed
• Apply a generous layer of compost over any garden soil to increase fertility levels and improve water retention
• Cover the ground with an inch or two of mulch to protect any plants from freezing
• Right now and early spring is a perfect time to get any weeds under control before they take over
• Plant any winter-hardy vegetables so they’re ready to harvest in the spring
• Get your soil tested to be sure you know how to improve the soil structure as much as possible
• Prune all your shrubs and trees
• Clean your gutters of any fallen leaves
• Add some new plants so they’re ready for spring
• Aerate your lawn closer to the end of winter after chance of frost is completely gone, this will help increase airflow and improve drainage
• Be sure your irrigation system is in top shape

This list seems like a lot to do all on your own, but we’re here to help. If you need assistance getting your yard in tip top shape for spring, we offer yard maintenance at Whispering Springs. Give us a call today at 770-893-1254 or contact us for more information on our yard maintenance services!

2023 has arrived. Are you ready to make it your best year yet? Maybe that means making some improvements to your home and lawn. While you may not be looking for more projects to do around your house and yard just yet, we wanted to give you some landscaping inspiration for the new year.

You may be initially thinking that there isn’t much more you can do with your yard. We’d have to say that’s false. There are always more things you can do, even if they’re just minor improvements to make your lawn more to your lifestyle. For example, making sure your outdoor living space is as comfortable as possible. That way once the weather finally warms up, you can fully enjoy it and forget all about your winter blues.

Landscaping can take a lot of planning. From figuring out placement of a garden to building a patio, or any other addition you’d like to add to your yard, it can take some time to plan that out. So if developing your yard may be on your to do list for 2023, we suggest starting the planning as soon as you can. That way the plan can be in place and you can fully enjoy your new and improved yard in the spring once the weather warms up, throughout the beautiful summer days, and in the brisk fall air.

It’s time to make your yard your peaceful place. While this may be overwhelming to initially think about, we promise landscaping doesn’t have to be stressful. Our team at Whispering Springs can help you plan your perfect lawn and make it your reality in 2023. Give us a call today to discuss our landscaping design services 770-893-1254!

One of the most classic holiday traditions is picking out a live Christmas tree! It may only come around once per year, but these are memories you’ll have with your family for your lifetime! It’s important to pick a tree that is perfect for your home and family, no matter how big or small it is. If you need help picking the live Christmas tree that is best for your family, we have some tips to help!

Choose the right species

Each species of tree is a little bit different. To find the best types of live Christmas trees for your family, you need to match it to your household’s needs. If you have young children, you should purchase a pine or fir with soft needles instead of a spruce that has sharp needles.

Pick the correct height

When it comes to picking the correct height of a tree, there’s a bit of math involved. If you’re wanting to use a tree topper, you’ll want to allow at least a foot of room for it. However if you are not using a tree topper, you’ll still want to leave at least six inches.

Make sure it’s fresh

You’ll want to check the trunk. It should have a slight slickness to it if it’s fresh. Then bend a needle in half with your fingers. Fresh firs should snap, while fresh pines should bend and not break.

After the Christmas season is over, be sure to recycle your tree for a sustainable and earth-friendly holiday! We hope this helps you find the perfect live Christmas tree for your home. 

Whispering Springs Nursery wishes you a happy and healthy holiday season!

The beautiful fall weather is here. That may make you want to get out of the house and make some improvements to your yard. If growing a garden is on your mind, believe it or not fall is one of the best times to get started! Many people put off until the summer, but you certainly don’t have to. 

There are so many fruits, vegetables, and herbs that thrive in the cooler weather. Plus, there’s so many benefits to growing your own food, why would you put it off any longer? Keep reading to learn some of the benefits of growing your own food and the best vegetables to grow in your backyard during the fall!

Benefits Of Growing Your Own Food

Having a garden is more than just a hobby for those with a green thumb, there’s a ton of benefits. If you’re contemplating starting your own garden, there are so many benefits of growing your own food! 

Some of the benefits of growing your own food in a garden include:

1. Knowing what’s being used to grow the food
2. There’s a freshness like no other
3. It saves money

Best Vegetables To Grow In Your Backyard In The Fall

Everything has the best season for it to grow! While you may think of the spring and summer as the best time to get things growing, some things actually thrive in fall.

Some of our favorite vegetables that thrive and grow in the fall are:

1. Pumpkins
2. Carrots
3. Brussel sprouts
4. Broccoli
5. Potatoes
6. Arugula
7. Yellow squash
8. Zucchini
9. Spinach
10. Cauliflower

We hope this convinces you to break out your green thumb and get a garden growing in your backyard this fall! We’d love to help you pick out some fruits and veggies for your garden at Whispering Springs. Give us a call today at 770-893-1254 for more information on our garden center and any of our services!

Cooler weather is a great time to test out your green thumb and become a plant parent. If your green thumb isn’t so green, you may realize it can be a bit tricky to keep your houseplants happy and thriving. Keep reading for some tips on how to choose the best houseplants for you and how to keep your plants thriving!

Choose plants that work with your schedule

If you tend to stay busy, you will want more of a low-maintenance plant. Some ideas of plants that are far from high maintenance are succulents, snake plants, and ZZ plants. If you have extra time on your hands to handle more of a high-maintenance plant, we recommend ferns, orchids, and air plants.

Choose your plants based on light available

You’ll want to choose your plants based on the amount of natural light your home receives. Most houseplants prefer bright, indirect sunlight. However, many can tolerate lower light levels. Some succulents and cacti are some of the few plants that can handle bright, direct sunlight.

Water your plants mindfully

All plants have different watering needs, so it’s important to be mindful of their individual needs.

Fertilize your plants periodically

Much like watering, each different type of plant has their own fertilizing needs. It’s important to know how much you need to fertilize them and when.

Don’t forget to prune your houseplants too

Like outdoor plants, houseplants need to be pruned too. Usually the fall is the best time to prune most houseplants.

Repot your plants when needed

If the roots of the plant are circling the pot, it may be time to repot the plant. Or if the plant has outgrown the pot, it’s best to repot it in a slightly larger pot for space purposes. Be sure to read up on tips for the particular plant you’re attempting to repot.

Get your plants from a reliable source

To set yourself up for houseplant success, you’ll want to get them from a reliable source where you can ensure they were taken care of. In addition, their experts can help you pick out the best plant(s) for you and answer any questions you may have.

We hope these tips help you find the right houseplants for you and your lifestyle, as well as how to keep those houseplants thriving! We’d love to help you pick out some plants for your home at Whispering Springs. Give us a call today at 770-893-1254 for more information on our garden center and any of our services!