Gardening 101 – How to Start a Garden

For people who are new to gardening, it can be a little confusing. One of the best ways to start is to break the process into manageable steps. Once you get started, you’ll be rewarded with colorful blooms and beautiful views!

When starting a garden, the first step is to decide what you want to grow. Your goal should be something that is suited to your family’s needs and interests. Consider vegetables, flowers, fruit, and herbs. You can find inspiration from local botanic gardens.

In addition to your choice of plants, you should also consider how much sun and water the garden will receive. Plants need optimum temperatures to grow properly. A garden near a home has less risk of being exposed to high winds and frost pockets. Also, a garden that is near a house is easier to care for.

After you have chosen your plants, you’ll need to prepare the soil. This involves removing the sod and preparing the bed. The soil should be a rich, organic mix. Adding perlite, small 3/8″ volcanic rock, or pumice will help aerate the soil.

Next, you should place the young plants in the prepared bed. Young plants have large roots, so they should be pushed up from the bottom. If the plants are not rooting well, try loosening their roots with an old fork.

You should also make sure that the area is at least three to four feet wide. Leaving too little space between the plants may result in overcrowding.