How to Start a Garden for Beginners
Starting a garden sounds simple enough but does require a bit of planning. Focus your efforts particularly on soil preparation for good results. Plants thrive best in soil rich in organic matter with good aeration. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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1
Sit in the area where you intend to start your garden. Sketch a rough draft of the border, the colors of the flowers and their placement, or the vegetables you prefer to harvest, a spot for a bench and any other elements you want.
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2
Mark the space with twine and stakes. If this is your first garden, start small.
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3
Dig up grass that may already be there or relocate the sod to another spot in your yard that needs it. Till the soil or turn it over with a shovel.
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4
Improve your soil by adding compost, enough to comprise 20 percent of the top 8 inches by volume. This promotes healthy plant growth for years.
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5
Select annuals, perennials or a mix in your garden. The good thing about perennials is that they come back every year. Choose plants that do well in shade if the garden doesn’t have a lot of sunlight.
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Place your plant starts where you want them to go while still in the containers. This way you can see how the plant colors blend together or if taller vegetables are in the back. Space the plants according to the spacing instructions on the plant's tag. You may find that you need more plants.
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Dig holes at the same depth as the containers. Fill the hole with water and slow-release fertilizer before placing the plant in the hole. Backfill the soil around the root ball.
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Cover the bed with mulch to help maintain soil moisture and suppress weeds from growing.
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Tips & Warnings
Water plants every day for at least two weeks until plants are well established.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images
