Winter’s icy hand still has us in a bit of a chokehold, but in your head, you’ve already got some gardening ideas and goals brewing. You’ve seen them, the gardeners who post beautiful photos of flowers and produce growing in their own soil. Gardening makes them happy, and it’s been giving you a serious case of FOMO. This year you have decided you are going to get in on this gardening thing.
But how do you get a garden started? How do you plan a garden, what’s a growing zone, and how do you decide what to grow?
Don’t worry, here are five beginner gardener tips ripe and ready to harvest so you can get started on the garden of your dreams. Don’t have seeds yet? Grab your free seed kit now!
Tip 1 – Plan your garden
The common phrase “failing to plan is planning to fail” is common for a reason. Failing to plan your garden can lead to wasted money, misused space, poor plant health, and a disappointing harvest.
Gardening is not an overnight endeavor, it takes time, research, and attention to detail. Set aside some time to plan your garden. What kind of garden would you like to have? What space do you have available for it? Do you want to start small and build up over time? Answering some of these questions through research will help you formulate a gardening plan.
Tip 2 – Choose the right location
“Location, location, location” is not just a cute phrase realtors say, it’s also a vital part of gardening. When you are preparing to start a garden, you need to consider what elements and materials plants require to thrive. Plants need sun, soil, and space to grow. The amount of sun, soil, and space every plant needs will vary depending on the types of plants you choose.
Your options for a garden location may be limited if you have a small yard or live in an apartment, but that’s okay, you can still garden! Just choose the best option you have available.
Tip 3 – Research your growing zone
Growing zones are geographic regions defined by climate conditions that will affect plant growth and survival. Understanding these zones helps farmers and gardeners choose the plants that will most likely thrive within their growing zone.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has divided North America into 13 growing zones based on average annual minimum winter temperatures. You can learn more about your growing zone on their website.
Tip 4 – Decide what you will grow
Now that you have started your plan, chosen a location, and researched your growing zone, it’s time to choose what you want to plant. This is a balancing act between consulting your personal preferences and understanding what plants will thrive in your environment (which includes both your growing zone and your garden’s location).
Do you want to grow flowers or produce? Some people prefer one over the other, while others enjoy a mixed garden. Whatever you choose, look for flowers and fruits and vegetables that will thrive in your growing zone and gardening location. For example, most cacti plants are not going to thrive in growing zones with winter temps that consistently dip below 20 degrees, so unless you would like to move to the Southwest, perhaps choose another plant!
Tip 5 – Create a garden layout
A good garden layout can be the difference between a great gardening experience, or a lousy one. Creating a garden layout will enable you to get the most out of your space, using every bit of your garden beds effectively so you can grow more plants.
When creating your layout, you need to consider the plants you have chosen and what their specific needs are. Putting the plant that loves shade in the back corner of your bed that only gets partial sun will help that plant thrive while you put the sun loving plants more in the forefront.
A well-planned garden is easier to maintain, and honestly, it just looks amazing! You can also create a garden layout that accounts for different seasons if you desire to have flowers and fresh garden produce year-round.
Many often shy away from gardening for fear of problems or getting in over their head, but that doesn’t have to be you, gardening is fun and can bring so much satisfaction! All it takes is some preparation and research. Read articles on gardening (you’ve already checked this box), find some gardening YouTube channels, maybe even attend a gardening seminar.
Winter may have us wrapped in its frigid fist, but you can get a head start on your springtime activities by following these five beginning gardening tips now!