There are numerous reasons to want to start a garden – for starters, it's an excellent source of physical activity. It creates memories with your family, it’s relaxing and can relieve the tension of a busy day at work and it also can provide your family with fresh produce grown right in your backyard. It can be a hobby or a lifestyle to grow a garden, but it can also be hard work. That is why this post will concentrate on gardening for beginners.

People who have impressive gardens, with arrays of colorful flowers and breathtaking greenery, spend time and effort to get their garden that way. It is important to know what you want to plant and grow before starting. There are numerous factors to consider when starting a garden and that’s what we are going to break down today.

Where and What You’ll Grow

Before turning any soil over or starting any seedlings indoors through a grow light system – there are a couple of things that you will need to determine. Those things being where you’re going to place your garden bed or beds if you plan on planting multiple things and what you plan on growing in your beds.

You’ll want a location that gets ample sunlight, watering will be easy, and you will not have to transport watering cans or a garden hose numerous feet and you’ll want a location that doesn’t see a lot of foot traffic to prevent damage the beds.

Once you’ve decided on where to place your garden beds, you’ll want to determine what you are going to grow. Research what plants, flowers, vegetables and fruits grow best in your climate. You’ll want to know the frost patterns and the growing season to prevent the plants from dying off before they get a chance to fully take root. Look for plants that are hearty and will grow easily with minimal effort starting out.

Not sure where to find this information? Do an internet search or speak to your local gardening center for advice. Some counties and towns also have gardening groups, where numerous gardeners of all experience levels meet to discuss the current growing season. You can also stop by your local farmers market to discuss growing seasons, produce and more with the farmers that have their wares on display.

Tools, Compost and Mulch

If you’re going to start a garden, you’re going to want the following on hand to make it easier on yourself
  • Gardening gloves that are sturdy with padded palms and fingertips
  • A steel shovel for turning over stubborn soil for the first time
  • A rake for tilling the soil and preparing it for growing
  • A kneeling pad for getting up close and personal with your plants
  • A trowel for digging through the soil and removing weeds, replanting plants, garden netting and more
  • A wheelbarrow for moving soil, compost and mulch from one location to the next. Check out Backyard Boss for the best ones on a budget!
  • A watering can or garden hose to provide the water required for optimal growing
  • Seeds that need to be germinated or seedling plants that are already on the growing path
A garden will also need compost or some other form of fertilizer. You can produce your own compost using materials that are found around your house and would otherwise end up in the garbage bag or recycling pile. Use eggshells, coffee grounds, newsprint, wood chips, lawn clippings and more to create your own compost pile. Compost provides an excellent source of nutrients to your plants.

You might also want to consider using mulch in your garden as it acts as a cushion against the elements. It prevents the soil from becoming contaminated with harmful agents that could be carried on the wind, it prevents the plants from being exposed to the elements of the seasons (temperature changes, wind speeds, hail, rain, etc.) and it can also pose a barrier against outside pests. Homemade mulch can be created using wood chips, bark, and other items or you can purchase it in bags at your local hardware store.

Conclusion

As you can see, starting a garden will take time, effort and even a bit of physical labour but the end result is definitely worth it. The first time you bite into a salad made with fresh veggies from your garden or you look across the room to the displays of fresh flowers; it will be worth it.

You can even turn your backyard into a relaxing oasis with your garden beds on one side of the backyard and a fire pit combined with comfortable seating on the other. Start spending more time outdoors and enjoying everything that Mother Nature has to offer. Plus, gardening is a workout in itself, so get moving and get healthy while completing something just for you!