Starting a backyard garden is an exciting and rewarding pursuit. That said, there is a certain level of know-how involved if you hope to see your plants achieve greatness. After all, plants of all shapes and sizes require water, sunlight, good soil, and a long list of other things to thrive.
Luckily, we’ve compiled a few of the best backyard gardening tips for beginners. Explore them so that you can help your garden flourish.
Location, location, location
One of the first things new gardeners need to decide is where their garden will be located. Ideally, you should select a spot with plenty of sunlight and a little shade. Sunlight and shade are significant to any plant’s ability to grow.
So, finding a place where they can get both is paramount, whether you’re living in an apartment or a two-story home in the suburbs. If you have a little more space to work with, you should also consider how much space your green babies will have to stretch their roots and expand.
To illustrate, if you plan on growing fruit trees and veggies with tall stalks, don’t try to stuff them in the corner of your yard. Instead, try to find an area where they’ll have plenty of room to grow to their intended size.
Tools and supplies
An ideal location for your garden is only part of the equation. If you want your garden to succeed, you must also have all the proper tools and supplies.
There are a few basic things that every gardener should have on hand, including:
- Soil, gravel, and planters or pots
- Gardening tools (shovels, hand plows, pruning tools)
- Fertilizers, mulch, and soil pH tests
You will also need to select the best hose nozzle and hose to meet the specific needs of your garden. These things make it easier to give your plants everything they need to thrive in their new home.
Start simple, then expand
The best tip for new gardeners is to start simple, then expand. There are all kinds of plants out there. Each of them is unique and requires different growing conditions and levels of skill to grow successfully. As a result, some plants can be extremely difficult to properly care for when you start.
So don’t overwhelm yourself with overly finicky plants. Instead, select a few starter plants—such as succulents—that are relatively easy to take care of. As you level up your gardening knowledge and ability, you can start incorporating some of the higher-maintenance plants.
