There are a lot of great reasons to start or maintain a garden: fresh air; sunlight; and exposure to nature are great for your health; and growing your own flowers and/or food can be an empowering experience. If you're interested in gardening but you could use a few tips to make your gardening experience easier and more pleasant, read on!

Slug-proof your garden with smart perennial choices. A plant can be completely demolished overnight by slugs and snails. These pests gravitate to young perennials with smooth, tender, thin leaves. Perennials with hairy leaves or bitter taste are unattractive to snails and slugs, keeping them safe from harm. Some varieties of these plants are campanula, helleborus, heuchera, or euphorbia.

Flush your plants with water if the rim of the pot or top of the soil has white salt deposits. Flush using twice the amount water as the size of the pot. Salt accumulates when using liquid fertilizer and can cause a PH imbalance. Once you have flushed the plant, do not water the plant again until the soil is dry.

Use water efficiently as possible. One of the most precious resources in the world today is fresh water. It just cannot be wasted, so the use of mulch and soaker hoses are an efficient way to minimize the impact of the garden on the water supply. Consider having a rain barrel near the garden to capture and save rainwater for a minimal impact garden.

You can test the viability of your seeds by soaking them overnight. Drop them into a container of water and keep them in a dark place for a day. Check the location of the seeds. If they sank to the bottom, they are usable. If they float the the top, they may be dead.

You can use natural waste items around your home to benefit your plants. For example, plants that prefer high acidic soil love a mulch mixed with coffee grounds. Cinnamon can be used as a natural fungicide for potted plants. And of course, there are the myriad benefits of a home compost pile.

To give your plant great nutrition without spending a lot of money, use leaves! Leaves are one of the best plant foods available. Try covering any exposed soil in your garden with small, shredded leaves. This will enrich the soil and will allow it to provide better nutrition to your plants.

Irises can benefit from being separated. Splitting up overgrown groups of irises will allow you to easily increase the number of irises in your garden. After the foliage dies, pick up bulbous irises. If you split the bulbs that you pull up, and replant them, they will bloom the following year. For plants with rhizomes, use a knife to divide them. Get rid of the center and keep the new pieces you cut from the outside. Don't plant any pieces that don't have any strong offshoots. Replant immediately.

To grow great potatos, plant the spuds in burlap bags. Simply fill the bag with soil, plant the buds, and let it rest in your garden. This method of growing gives the spuds better air flow, and allows for excellent drainage. This is also a great way to grow potatoes if your garden is lacking in room.

To make nutrient fertilizer from stuff you have around the house, look at what you have for breakfast. Both old coffee grounds and tea bags make an excellent fertilizer, especially when it comes to plants that love acid. Eggshells add alkaline to your soil, and bananas are the best source of the potassium that roses thrive on.

Now are you ready to get started? Use these tips to boost your gardening skills. Enjoy the fresh air, sunlight, and being outdoors! Hopefully, you will have a great experience that you will want to repeat year after year! Share with family and friends! They will love it!