Five Ways to Keep Your Backyard Healthy

Why do some gardens always look great while others constantly look like they are barely clinging on to life? A lot of it is proper care and maintenance which will take some time and effort. Mostly however, healthy looking gardens are the result of applying a few basic but essential gardening principles.

Let us take a look at 5 ways to keep your backyard healthy.

1. Look Carefully Before Buying a Plant
   You need to know first what a healthy specimen looks like. If you bring home a plant with disease, insects or rot, this can easily spread to other plants and affect your whole garden. Examine the plant for any problems, bugs or dead spots. Also, look closely at theroots of the plant.
2. Look Out for Bugs
   I have seen beautiful gardens wiped out in a matter of days as a result of insects.
   Bugs also leave openings in the plant that allow bacteria and viruses to enter. Some insects carry viruses and transfer it from plant to plant as they go. Apart from that, they put the plant under stress, leaving it vulnerable and less able to resist disease.
3. Fertilize Correctly
   A strong, healthy plant not only looks good but is better able to fight off disease and other threats. If it does get infected or attacked by insects, it is more likely to recover. The correct use of fertilizers can give youhealthy and happy plants.

   Ensure you do not over use fertilizers as this will also cause damage and burn the plants. Use them in the recommended doses or choose an organic fertilizer.

   You can normally tell if a plant is not getting enough nutrients as they will have leaf spot and be smaller.

   For best results, get your soil tested. This will give you exact details of the nutrient levels and will guide you about what you need to add.

4. Purchase Disease-Resistant Plants
   There are many plant varieties available these days that are specifically grown to bedisease resistant. This is particularly popular with vegetables, fruit trees and many roses. It is also found in shrubs and flowers. Sometimes the disease resistance is communicated on the plant label but often it is not. You will have to do some research or talk to staff at the nursery and fellow gardeners.
5. Plant Correctly
   Most plants have specific requirements with regards to sun or shade, as well as factors such as temperature, water and another external variable. If you put a plant in an unsuitable place or environment it will suffer. The plant will not be able to get strong and will always be vulnerable to disease and insects.

   Certain plants simply will not grow in the wrong area and no matter how well you look after them they will die. Again, do some research before selecting and placing the plants in your garden. One simple solution is to select plants that are indigenous or endemic to your area. These are plants that would occur naturally in that place and climate and are well adapted to it and will thrive.

   Harsh winters can wreak havoc on your garden but if you have selected the plants correctly, most of them will bounce back as soon as the warmer weather returns. In the meantime, check out Snow Shifts' homepage selection and keep your drive way clear with ease.

Plants have resistance and resilience similar to humans. If we are weak and unhealthy, our body is less able to fight off infection and disease. So, it is with plants. If you select healthy plants to start with, preferably disease resistant varieties, and plant the correct plants in the right places, you should have a healthy, good-looking garden. Just fertilize, water and correctly maintain the plants and watch out for insects. Your garden will soon be one of the best looking in the neighborhood.