Gardening is associated with the care of garden plants.
Gardening is the art and craft of the gardener (the person who cares for and cultivates a garden ). It can develop in open or closed spaces, whether for aesthetic reasons, for feeding reasons or other reasons.
For example: "I'm going to take a gardening course to plant vegetables in my house" , "Grandpa spends several hours a day gardening" , "I must congratulate you: your house is a masterpiece of gardening" .
Emergence of gardening
The concept began to be used at the end of the 13th century . The specialists Olivier de Serres and Dézallier d'Argenville were the first theorists of this art , which involves the cultivation and care of plants , flowers, trees, vegetables, etc.
The first gardens, created in Ancient Egypt , had strong social connotations. These gardens symbolized prosperity and success. Over time that idea changed and the gardens began to become more massive, even with the creation of public gardens open to the public.
Differences with horticulture and agriculture
It is possible to differentiate between gardening and horticulture . The first is developed for personal or family use and enjoyment, and generally has the objective of beautifying a space; Horticulture, for its part, consists of the production of vegetables for consumption . Some theorists tend to differentiate both concepts as cultivation for personal purposes (gardening) and for commercialization or profit (horticulture); However, this differentiation is not entirely precise, and we will explain why.
Gardening is defined as the art of the gardener, this being the individual in charge of taking care of a garden. For its part, a garden is defined as land where plants are grown for ornamental purposes . On the other hand, if we try to understand the meaning of the word horticulture we will find that it means "garden cultivation" ; This being a space where vegetables, vegetables and fruit trees are planted.
Gardening does not require much capital or mechanical means. Although it depends on its size, a garden can generally be tended with a few tools, such as a rake , a shovel, a watering can, and a wheelbarrow. The case of agriculture is different, which involves the start-up of tractors, the installation of irrigation systems and the use of fertilizers.
Someone who is dedicated to gardening is known as a gardener.
Tips to get into gardening
To take the first steps in the world of gardening, it is essential to keep in mind a series of tips that will be essential for the success of the work.
- Understanding how plants work : At first glance, the gardener's art may be simple; However, before starting to develop it, it is essential to learn about how plants live. They have a way of eating and needs that are totally different from ours, so being aware of this will ensure success in the task.
- Each plant has its needs : Just as no two humans are alike, plants are not identical either. Therefore, we must know in advance who they are and what their needs are, to know if with the material we have (land, climate, space) we can satisfy these requirements, and ensure a healthy and happy life for the plant.
- Determine the characteristics of your garden : Before planting our first seed we must take into account that each plant has its own biological and environmental needs. Therefore, we will have to do an exhaustive analysis of the land we have to know what to plant, when and how. To do this we will also have to know the climatic characteristics of the environment, to know what care we should take in this regard in the various seasons of the year.
- Choose plants based on your garden : Once we know what our soil is like and how it is best for us to work with it, we will have to choose the species that will make up our garden; They should not be chosen because they are pretty but based on the space we have and, above all, the light.