Starting a Garden - Basic Steps, Ideas and Tips

Starting a garden can be a challenge even for the most seasoned pro.

You want to plant the right plants to have the garden you're seeking, but it's not always easy to do.

However, no matter what kind of garden you want to start, with the right planning and research, you can have a garden that you're proud of and that's more productive than you ever imagined.

Choose the garden type

The first thing you need to know when you're starting a garden is what type you would like to work with. You might want to grow fresh veggies all season long, or you might be thinking that you would like a multi-season flower garden. Choosing the garden type will help with the planning and design of your new garden.

Choose the spot

Once you've decided on the type of garden that's right for you, you need to choose the right spot. There are some gardens that you can specifically plant in the shade, so even if you have a shady yard, you shouldn't think that you can't have a garden.

It's a good idea to check and see what kind of light your garden will need. For instance, many vegetable gardens will need at least eight hours of sunlight on most days, while some gardens can handle partly shady conditions. Some gardens thrive in dry conditions and others do well in wet areas. Choosing the right spot for the garden you want to grow is a key element in starting a garden.

Start designing your garden

Next, it's time to start with the design elements of your new garden. Before starting a garden, you have to know how you want it to look. Vegetable gardens will require strategic planning so that you can have your larger plants in the middle or back and smaller plants toward the front. You'll also want to consider any supportive plants that you'll be using, such as mint, basil and marigolds, for good pest control.

When working on flower gardens, you should consider the location of your garden. For instance, if you're planting around your house, you'll likely want to consider starting your garden with large perennials toward the back, but make sure to give them plenty of room to grow. You can add a second and third row to your garden, or group and cluster different sized plants that will come back year after year.

When you're starting a garden of flowers, you will also want to consider adding smaller annuals to give you the pop of color that you're hoping for right away and help to give your garden a full, lush look.

Time to get planting

The next step to starting a garden is to actually, well, get started with the setting up. If you're using raised beds or gardens, you'll want to get them set up before you go further. Raised gardens are a great way to add a manicured look to your yard and not have to worry about digging up the yard or removing your grass.

If you choose to use a raised garden, you'll want to make sure that you get the right kind of soil for your needs. Small gardens can be filled with bags of soil, but when you're starting a garden that's larger, you might need to have a truckload of good garden soil brought in.

You should have planned out your garden space by now, and you've probably purchased all your plants, so this is the time to follow your plans. Make sure that you plant all of your plants deep enough, but not so deep that you bury the plant. Once you've got them in the ground, give your new garden a good, gentle but saturating watering, and do so every day it doesn't rain while your plants are getting established.

Starting a garden of any kind can be fun and help give your space color and design that you've been craving, so why not plan a garden for yourself this season?

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