Gardening is a great way to start saving money, while also growing your own food. Gardening also burns calories and helps you stay fit! But getting started with gardening can be intimidating if you’re new to it. Here are some tips on how to get started with your own garden:
| Takeaways |
|---|
| Gardening provides numerous physical and mental health benefits. |
| Start small and gradually expand your garden as you gain experience. |
| Choose plants that are appropriate for your level of experience and the conditions of your garden. |
| Prepare the soil properly by clearing the area of debris, tilling the soil, and adding compost or fertilizer. |
| Water your plants regularly and deeply to encourage healthy root growth. |
| Don’t be afraid to ask for help or seek out resources for gardening advice and education. |
| Enjoy the process of nurturing your garden and watching your plants grow. |
Start Small
Whether you’re looking to grow your own food or just want a new hobby, the best way to begin gardening is by starting with a small space. That way if it doesn’t work out, you haven’t wasted much money and time on your project.
If you’re new to gardening, start with just one plant in each of the vegetable categories: tomatoes, peppers (both bell and hot), cucumbers (slicers and picklers), zucchini/squash/eggplant (these are technically fruits), lettuce and spinach.
As far as tools go don’t buy everything at once! You’ll have plenty of time later on when you know what works well for you personally since there isn’t such thing as “the right tool” when it comes down do personal preference in gardening tools such as shovels or rakes
If you are wondering how often you should use a garden feeder for your plants, check out our guide on how often should you use Miracle Gro Garden Feeder. This guide explains the correct usage and frequency of garden feeder for your plants.
Ask For Advice
Ask your friends and family.
If you have a particularly green-thumbed neighbor or friend, ask them for advice on starting a garden. They may be able to offer useful tips and tricks that will save you time, money and headaches.
Visit the local nursery or garden center.
If you’re in an area that has a gardening store, visit it with questions ready to ask employees: “What are some plants that will grow well in my area?” and “What types of insects should I watch out for?”
Your local nursery or garden center can also give recommendations on which seeds to start with based on your climate zone and time of year (depending on when your gardening season begins). Plus, having someone else help choose what seeds to buy is always nice because they know their products very well!
Table: Getting Gardening Advice From Friends and Family
| Advice |
|---|
| Reach out to friends or family members who are experienced gardeners. |
| Ask them for advice on which plants to grow and how to care for them. |
| Inquire about the best times to plant and the optimal growing conditions. |
| Get recommendations for local gardening resources and suppliers. |
| Consider asking for demonstrations or help with specific tasks, such as pruning or transplanting. |
| Show appreciation for their input with a small token of thanks or an invitation to enjoy the fruits of your labor together. |
Grow Food From Scraps
Save your eggshells. Do you hate throwing away egg shells? Don’t! They can be used to grow plants. Simply place the shells in a shallow dish and water them with half an inch of water every day.
Planting seeds or cuttings in the shell will encourage new growth and strengthen the roots of your plant so it will be better able to withstand transplantation when it comes time for that. It also helps prevent pests by giving off an odor that keeps them away from your garden.
Collect unused coffee grounds instead of throwing them out! If you have access to a compost pile as I do, great!
Throw them right into there so they can break down naturally into fertilizer for your garden — but if not, don’t fret:
You can still use them as fertilizer by mixing with soil or potting mix before planting directly into the ground (or container) where you want to grow herbs or vegetables like tomatoes, squash, peppers and others which love high-nitrogen fertilizers like coffee grounds provide!
Maintaining healthy and lush green lawns requires proper fertilizing. If you are wondering how to fertilize your lawn yourself, check out our guide on how do I fertilize my lawn myself. This guide provides you with the information and instructions on how to get started with fertilizing your lawn.
Find an Old Window
One cool way to grow plants is with the help of an old window. You can remove the glass and use it as a plant pot, or even just place soil, compost and fertilizer in it.
Here are some helpful tips for how to do this:
Clean your window thoroughly before removing the glass. This will make sure that no dirt gets on your plant’s roots when you put them into their new home!
Remove all of the glass, so that only metal remains. This will allow water to escape from inside easily if it rains and also prevents mold from developing inside your greenhouse.
Make sure that there are plenty of ventilation holes at both ends of your greenhouse so that air can flow through freely without creating too much humidity inside.
Use soil mixed with compost (or just soil alone) over which fertilizer has been added at every watering time (watering once per week should be sufficient).
If these steps seem too complicated for you then simply use a regular plastic bag filled halfway full with water after poking holes in both ends using scissors – this will create enough humidity for most plants but not so much as leaves may wilt due to excessive moisture levels within them.
DIY Pallet Garden
Pallets are a great way to get started in gardening. They’re cheap, and they’re sturdy enough that they can last for years.
To build a pallet garden, all you need is:
- A large stack of pallets (you’ll probably want to buy these from a store or ask around your neighborhood)
- A hammer and nails or other means of securing the pallets together (you may be able to use screws instead if you have them on hand)
- Gardening supplies like soil, seeds, fertilizer and watering cans (these are optional; see below for details)
The final product should look something like this:
Choosing the right gardening gloves is important to ensure your hands are protected while you work in the garden. If you are wondering what kind of gloves are good for gardening, check out our guide on what kind of gloves are good for gardening. This guide provides you with the different types of gardening gloves available and which ones suit your needs.
Build a Teepee Trellis
A teepee trellis is the perfect solution for growing tomatoes, as well as other plants that need support. Using this type of trellis, you can plant multiple tomato plants and save space in your garden.
Materials needed:
- 1-by-4 boards (quantity depends on how tall you want your teepee to be)
- drill with a 3/4-inch bit
- screws for attaching the boards together (a 15/16-inch size will work fine)
Table: Materials Required for Building a Teepee Trellis
| Materials |
|---|
| Four long stakes or poles, approximately 7-8 feet tall |
| Twine or zip ties |
| Scissors |
| Tomato plants or other climbing plants |
| Soil and compost |
| Mulch or other ground cover |
| Garden gloves and tools (trowel, hoe, watering can, etc.) |
| Fertilizer or plant food (optional) |
Use a Potato Bin to Grow Potatoes
In order to get your potatoes started, you’ll need some seed potatoes. These are usually sold by the pound and can be found at most garden shops or big box stores like Lowe’s and Home Depot.
Potatoes grow underground, so they need to be planted deep in the soil. Potatoes grow best in a warm, dark environment and they are grown from seed potatoes (the potato plant produces more roots than tops). Make sure that your soil is loose and well-drained before planting your potato plants; this will help them get established faster.
Potatoes need to be kept moist at all times during their growing season; otherwise they will rot easily! If your soil is too dry for regular watering or rainfall isn’t enough to keep them sufficiently watered, consider adding mulch around their base instead (it will help conserve moisture).
Having the right gardening tools can make your gardening experience more enjoyable and efficient. If you want to know what are the tools of gardening, check out our guide on what are the tools of gardening. This guide provides you with the essential tool list for your gardening needs.
Make a Simple Hydroponic System With Water Bottles
You’ll need to purchase a few water bottles and some net pots or other container, like an old plastic crate. If you have access to old air conditioning units or similar metal devices, they can be used as well.
Cut the bottom off of one of the water bottles so that it forms a bowl shape (you’ll have four pieces total from this first bottle).
Poke holes in all four pieces: The top piece should have two holes on each side for drainage; the second piece should have one hole on each side; the third piece and net pot/crate will both only have one hole on each side as well.
Also poke some holes into your pots if desired for additional aeration and drainage control—you do not want too much water draining out when you’re growing!
Learn How to Propagate Plants From Cuttings
Have you ever noticed how many plants there are around us? It can be easy to forget that most of them started out as small cuttings, taken from larger plants.
When you plant a cutting in the ground, it becomes an entirely new plant. If you’re interested in growing your own garden and don’t know where to start, propagating plants from cuttings is a great way to get started!
There are plenty of reasons why this method works so well:
- You can get more for your money by starting with a smaller piece of rootstock than you would if you were going straight for seed.
- Many plants are more likely to take root when they’re given less room than usual you might put two or three pieces together instead of one big one and find them thriving!
- It’s easier than starting from scratch when all your seeds fail (which happens sometimes).
If you are looking to learn about gardening and where to start, check out our guide on where do I start learning about gardening. This guide will provide you with all the resources and information to start your journey in gardening.
Start a Compost Pile in Your Backyard
Composting is an excellent way to recycle your household waste. It’s a natural process that takes place in nature, where dead plants and animals are broken down by microorganisms into nutrients needed for healthy living things.
You can make your own compost bin at home with a few basic tools:
- A large plastic tarp or canvas sheet that will fit over the area you would like to use (if possible, choose an area with access to sunlight)
- Utility knife or other sharp tool for cutting holes in the tarp for ventilation
- Garden gloves, if desired (to protect hands from sharp objects)
Make a Rain Barrel to Catch and Store Rain Water
Rain barrels are an absolutely vital part of your garden. They can help you reduce water consumption and keep your plants healthy, all while saving you money in the long-run. A rain barrel is basically a large container that collects rain water from a downspout and stores it for later use.
Here are some things to keep in mind when making a rain barrel:
Location – You will want to place the barrel where it has direct access to the downspout, but also somewhere where it isn’t going to rust out from the sun and elements.
Ideally, this would be under an overhang or porch roof where it will be sheltered from harsh sunlight and wind damage.
Size – The size of your barrel depends on how much water you need stored each day/week/month (or year).
If you live in an area with heavy rains throughout most seasons of the year then chances are good that one large container won’t be enough storage capacity – especially if there aren’t any other landscaping features around like trees with broad leaves or thick shrubs that would shade out parts of your yard during summer months when temperatures rise above 90 degrees Fahrenheit (+32 Celsius). In those cases consider adding multiple smaller containers instead!
Conclusion
You don’t have to be a professional gardener to start gardening. All it takes is a little motivation and willingness to learn, along with some tools and supplies that are either inexpensive or free.
Further Reading
If you are looking for more information on gardening for beginners, check out these helpful resources:
Gardening for Beginners: 10 Tips from Gardeners’ World. This article provides 10 essential tips for new gardeners, covering everything from soil preparation to plant care.
Beginner’s Guide from Royal Horticultural Society. This guide is a comprehensive introduction to gardening for beginners, offering helpful tips and advice on all aspects of gardening.
Beginner’s Guide to Gardening from Gardening Know How. This guide covers the basic principles of gardening, including plant selection, soil preparation, and watering.
FAQs
What are the best plants to grow for beginners?
Some of the best plants to grow for beginners are tomatoes, lettuce, radishes, cucumbers, and herbs like basil and parsley. These plants are relatively easy to grow and can be grown in small spaces.
When is the best time to start a garden?
The best time to start a garden depends on your location and the climate. Generally, the best time to start a garden is in the spring, after the danger of frost has passed. However, you can also start a garden in the fall or winter depending on the plants you want to grow.
How do I know if my plants need water?
One way to tell if your plants need water is to stick your finger about an inch into the soil. If the soil feels dry, it’s time to water. You can also check the leaves of your plant; if they are wilted or droopy, it’s a sign that they need water.
What is composting, and how do I do it?
Composting is a way to recycle food scraps and garden waste into nutrient-rich soil. To start composting, you need a bin or container and a mix of “brown” and “green” materials. “Brown” materials include things like leaves and twigs, while “green” materials include things like fruit and vegetable scraps. Mix these materials together in your bin, and turn the compost regularly to aerate it.
How can I prevent pests and diseases in my garden?
One of the best ways to prevent pests and diseases in your garden is to practice good garden hygiene. This includes removing dead or diseased plant material, rotating your crops each year, and keeping your garden clean and tidy. You can also use organic pest control methods like companion planting and insecticidal soap to keep pests at bay.
Hi! My name is Hellen James, and I’m here to help you with your home-maintenance needs. Whether it’s building a better yard or just trying to fix a garden—I can show you how.
