Moving to a new house is the perfect time to give gardening a try. As you settle into your new home, planting gardens is a great way to give the house curb appeal and make it a welcome outdoor space for your family to enjoy. If you moved from the city to the ‘burbs, you finally have more space to test our your green thumb. If you’re a gardening beginner, now is the time to get your hands dirty in your new yard!

5 Tips for a Gardening Beginner

1. Decide What You Want To Grow

Like moving, a good plan is crucial to a gardening beginner.

Decide what you want to get out of your new space—and keep in mind that there are different levels of care for different types of gardens. If you’d like a no-hassle project that adds beauty to your backyard, consider a low-maintenance perennial spread. If you’re interested in a bigger challenge with tasty rewards, try out a bright vegetable garden.

2. Know Your New Yard

If you’ve made the jump to move farther north or south, research your new region. Hardiness zones help define which plants thrive in your climate. These are just guidelines, but they can be very help when selecting which plants will brighten up your new home. Check out the USDA’s Hardiness Zone Map.

3. Rain Is A Gardening Beginner’s Best Friend

If you have made the move from a dry climate like Phoenix to a damp climate like Seattle, keep in mind that your garden probably won’t need to be watered as much in periods of heavy rainfall or high humidity.

Protect your plants from over-watering. If your plants are wilting from too much moisture, try to plan your watering schedule around the weather—or befriend one of your new neighbors and ask a local gardener for advice.

4. Dry Heat? Fertilize!

Vice versa, if you’ve moved from a wet climate to a dry climate, you might need to take steps to help your new garden grow. Adding water-retaining fertilizer to your soil can assist even plants that are watered daily in dry, hot climates.

5. You Like Moving, But Your Plants Don’t!

Plant placement matters! While you are growing roots in your new home and community, your plants are doing the same. Observe your yard before planting to ensure plants are positioned to best meet their light, space, and soil needs.

If you have indoor plants that you are considering moving, be sure to check out our advice on moving plants.

If you’re thinking about listing your home, planting gardens, like home improvement, is also a great way to boost the curb appeal and price of your property!

Considering moving to a home with great gardening potential? Contact Olympia Moving and Storage at 800-222-4744 or get an instant moving estimate!

Summer months see a rise in electric and cooling costs. Olympia Moving has some tips on how to set up your new home to keep costs down after your big move.

Moving is a process. You’re uprooting your life from one place to another and unpacking takes up time. Something that may be pushed to the back of your mind is your new energy bill. We have some tips on how you can save money this summer while you enjoy your new home!

Unplug things you aren’t using. Are you keeping your laptop or phone chargers plugged in when you’re not home? What about your toaster or coffee maker? All of these are contributors to your electric bill. Unplug electronics when you are done using them, and use a power strip to be able to efficiently unplug whatever is not in use. Unplugging your computer alone could save you around $75 per year.

Placement is key. Lights and televisions radiate a certain amount of heat, which can affect the reading on your thermostat or air conditioner. Your air conditioner will run longer and take longer for your home to heat up to your desired temperature. Place these heat-emitting electronics away from thermostats and anything gauging a temperature reading to evenly distribute heat and cooling.

Switch out your light bulbs. Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLS) use less energy than incandescent bulbs and are made to last up to twelve times longer than regular bulbs. The upfront cost will pay itself off quickly when you take into consideration the length of time between replacement.
You should also ask yourself about the temperature you need to feel comfortable in your home. Running your air conditioner at a higher temperature saves up to 18% on electricity costs over the summer. Higher settings require less power to run and having a ceiling or floor fan to circulate air will help keep your home cool. Just remember to turn both off when you leave to save money; fans cool people more than they cool rooms.

Consider adding solar panels. If you just moved into your dream home for the long haul, consider going the extra step to save on your energy bills and help the planet. Get a consultation for adding solar panels to your home. Solar Power Authority and this guide from Forbes are good resources for getting started.

Still looking for your new home? Request a moving estimate from Olympia Moving & Storage online or give us a call at 800-222-4744

Category: Post-Move Tips