10 Tips for Novice Gardeners ...

By Lyndsie

10 Tips for Novice Gardeners ...

I really want to start a garden. I want to grow some flowers and I'm really interested in growing vegetables. I don't know the logistics of it, since it's really our landlords' yard, but they're pretty into green activities, growing your own food, and so on, so they might be cool with it. Either way, I figured I'd better get to know a bit about gardening first. If you're also interested in maybe putting together your first garden, the following 10 tips for novice gardeners might help you too!

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1

Start Little

Rather than starting out with some big ginormous garden that takes over your entire yard, you need to begin with something smaller. That way, you won't start feeling as overwhelmed. Besides, with a little garden, you give yourself a chance to see if you like gardening. However, make sure you start out in a place where you can expand.

2

Read and Research

Reading and researching will serve you well when you're a novice gardener. Look for books on gardening, and check out magazines devoted to it as well. Your friends may have some books for you to borrow. Once you start reading, start taking notes. That way, you can get ideas about what to grow, techniques to use, and so on.

3

Pick Easy Plants

When you first get started, you don't need to be growing anything complicated. If you're growing flowers, for instance, pick easy ones that you really can't mess up, like marigolds and pansies. For vegetables, choose tomatoes, beans, zucchini, lettuce, and things like that. You can also focus on herbs.

4

Ask for Help

If you have family members, friends, or neighbors with gardens, talk to them! They're probably more than willing to help you, and it always helps to have a mentor. You can also get help from the employees at your local gardening centers and nurseries. However, the people you know firsthand can actually come to your house and help you.

5

Get the Proper Tools

Every gardener, new or experienced, needs the right tools. You may need to pay more to get good quality, but high quality tools will serve you well. Again, experienced gardeners will be able to tell you what you need. Typically, you should definitely have a shovel, several rakes, a trowel, a wheelbarrow, a hoe, and things like that to start.

Famous Quotes

Happiness depends upon ourselves.

Aristotle
6

Compost

It may sound gross, but compost can really help your garden. I know starting a compost pile isn't the most palatable activity in the world, but it will make your soil really rich, and it can help you cut down on trash as well. Just make sure you put it way down wind.

7

Start a Journal

Keeping a journal devoted to gardening can help as well. You can keep your notes in there, plus you can jot down what works and what doesn't in your own garden. You can also keep track of when your plants seem to do better and things like that.

8

Tend Carefully

No matter what kind of garden you have, it will need careful tending. You can't forget to water or turn the soil or mulch. Again, a journal will help you keep track of what your plants like the best, so you can maintain your own rhythm.

9

Be Careful

Naturally you need to be careful with your plants, whether you are growing flowers, vegetables, or herbs. However, you need to be careful with yourself as well. Wear gloves, take care of your knees, wear a hat, and put on sunscreen.

10

Have a Good Time

This is maybe the most important tip. Sure, gardening takes a lot of work, but that doesn't mean it shouldn't be fun. In fact, it should be. Gardening can be incredibly soothing and therapeutic, so if you find that it's causing you more stress, you might want to rethink it.

You have to remember as well that different areas have different growing cycles. They also lend themselves better to different plants. Do you have any tips for brand new gardeners?

Top Photo Credit: sarahridgley

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