How to Start a Garden: A Beginner’s Guide to Growing Your Own Green Space

Starting a garden is one of the most rewarding hobbies you can take up. Whether you want to grow fresh vegetables, fragrant herbs, or vibrant flowers, a garden allows you to cultivate beauty and sustenance right in your own backyard. Gardening connects you with nature, provides a sense of accomplishment, and offers health benefits like reducing stress and increasing physical activity. 

If you're new to gardening, this guide will take you through the essential steps to create a thriving outdoor space from scratch.

If you’re looking for spiral bound gardening books to help you start your gardening journey, check out our collection of gardening books here at Lay It Flat! 

We create spiral bound versions of the best gardening books, allowing you to lay them flat while watering your plants, tilling your soil, or doing anything that involves gardening. Say goodbye to having to press your books down constantly, and grab a spiral bound book today!

 

How to Start a Garden

1. Pick a Garden Spot

Choosing the right garden location is crucial. To flourish, most vegetables and flowering plants require at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight daily. Observe different spots in your yard throughout the day to determine which areas receive the most sunlight.

A flat area is preferable because uneven terrain can lead to water runoff, making it difficult for plants to retain moisture. Sloped land can also cause soil erosion, washing away essential nutrients and making it harder for plants to establish strong roots. Additionally, consider proximity to a water source, as easy access to water will make garden maintenance much more convenient.

2. Clear the Ground

Once you've chosen a location, it's time to clear the area of grass, weeds, and debris. Use a spade, rake, or garden fork to remove unwanted vegetation for a quick solution manually. A good lawn mower and shovel can also help you if the bushes on your piece of land are bigger than expected. This method is effective but requires a lot of manual and physical effort.

For a long-term approach, consider the lasagna gardening method. This technique involves layering newspaper or cardboard over the designated area and covering it with compost or topsoil. Over several months, the organic materials decompose, enriching the soil and eliminating weeds naturally. If you start this process in the fall, your garden bed will be ready for planting by spring, with minimal effort required.

3. Prepare Your Raised Beds

Healthy soil is the foundation of a successful garden. Before planting, loosen the soil to improve aeration and drainage. Good aeration and drainage are crucial for seeds and plants, allowing them to 'breathe' and access the oxygen they need. This can be done manually with a shovel for small gardens or a rototiller for larger areas.

Timing is also important—work the soil when it’s moist but not overly wet. If it crumbles easily when you squeeze it, it’s ready. Avoid tilling dry soil since it can become compacted and difficult to work with, while overly wet soil can form clumps that hinder root growth. Allow enough time for drying, or adjust the soil moisture by adding water. Mixing in organic matter such as compost or aged manure will further improve soil quality, ensuring your plants receive the necessary nutrients.

The next step is to familiarize yourself when preparing your compost or “soil recipe.” Soil recipes are not a one-type-fits-all kind of mixture. Different plants react differently to soil. Learning about the soil and matching it with your geography and plant type will secure a good chance of having a successful growth season. Here are some words used in preparing your soil:

• Topsoil: It provides a great base for your soil mix.

• Peat moss: It provides good moisture retention and aeration due to the nature of the material being “mesh-like,” porous, or fibrous, with lots of spaces for air in between its fibers.

• Vermiculite: It is a natural mineral containing important elements like magnesium, iron, and silica. It helps with drainage and aeration, which is good for plants.

• Compost: It adds nutrients and improves soil structure.

• Other organic matter: This can include things like homemade compost, worm castings, and composted manure.

Mel’s Mix and bagged garden soil are two of the most popular options for soil recipes. Learning about the perfect ratio of every material will allow you to deal with the different types of plants you want in your garden. Raised garden beds are another excellent option for improving soil quality and drainage.

Raised Beds for Better Drainage

Raised beds are a fantastic option for vegetable gardens, offering numerous benefits that can lead to healthier and more productive plants. Raising beds improves drainage and aeration by elevating the soil, crucial for robust plant growth. This setup allows water to penetrate more effectively, preventing waterlogging and root rot.

Raised beds feature soil above the existing ground level, meaning they don’t get walked on as much, so they are less prone to compaction. In-ground gardens can become compacted over time. The good elevation allows gravity to do its work.

One of the significant advantages of raised beds is the ability to control soil quality. You can fill them with a mix of high-quality soil and organic matter, creating a nutrient-rich environment tailored to your vegetable plants’ needs. This is particularly beneficial if your garden soil is poor or compacted.

Imagine a rectangular or square box built from wood, stone, or metal. This box sits on top of the ground, from a few inches to a couple of feet tall. That's your basic raised bed! When constructing raised beds, opt for durable materials like wood or composite materials that can withstand the elements. Ensure the beds are at least 6-8 inches deep to provide ample space for root development. You can create an optimal growing environment with raised beds, leading to a more successful vegetable garden.

4. Pick Your Plants from a Local Garden Center

Deciding what to grow is one of the most exciting parts of gardening. You can plan your garden based on aesthetics, food production, or both, ensuring you choose the right garden plants. While it may be tempting to pick plants solely based on their appearance, choosing varieties suited to your climate, soil type, and available sunlight is essential.

Here are some great beginner-friendly options:

• Annual Flowers: Marigolds, sunflowers, zinnias, and impatiens add color and vibrancy to your garden.

• Perennial Flowers: Black-eyed Susans, coneflowers, and Russian sage return year after year with minimal maintenance.

• Vegetables: Tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, and peppers are easy to grow and provide fresh produce throughout the season.

Selecting high-quality seeds and seedlings is crucial for cultivating healthy plants that will thrive in your garden.

5. Start Planting

Different plants have different planting schedules. Some cold-hardy varieties, like kale and pansies, can be planted in late winter or early spring, while others, like tomatoes and most flowers, should be planted after the danger of frost has passed. Learn about which plants thrive in different seasons and temperatures.

You have two primary options for starting your plants:

• Direct Sowing: Many plants, especially annual flowers and vegetables, can be grown directly from seeds planted in the soil. Be sure to follow the instructions on seed packets for optimal planting times and spacing. You may consult your seed suppliers if it’s not included in the label.

• Transplanting: You can buy young plants from a nursery for a quicker start. When transplanting, dig a hole slightly larger than the plant’s root ball, gently loosen the roots, and place it in the hole before covering it with soil. Water properly to help the plant establish itself.

If you want to start from seed and get a head start, you can grow seedlings indoors a few weeks before planting outdoors. Use seed trays with potting soil in a sunny window or under grow lights. Keep the soil moist and transplant the seedlings when they are strong enough to withstand outdoor conditions.

6. Water at the Right Time with a Drip Irrigation System

Watering is one of the most important aspects of garden care. Newly planted seeds and seedlings require frequent daily watering to ensure they don’t dry out. As plants mature, they develop stronger root systems and can go longer between waterings.

The best time to water is in the early morning. This allows moisture to soak into the soil before the day's heat causes evaporation. Water deeply to encourage deep root growth rather than shallow roots that make plants more susceptible to drought. If unsure whether your plants need water, check the soil a few inches below the surface—if it’s dry, it’s time to water. Consider installing a drip irrigation system for efficient and consistent watering.

When watering, consider both the plant and the soil type. Some plants prefer less moisture than others. While we might think more water is always better, overwatering can be harmful. The type of soil affects how much water it retains. Well-draining soil allows for adequate air pockets, essential for plant roots to access the oxygen they need for healthy growth. Too much water can actually reduce the oxygen available to roots.

7. Mulch Your New Garden

Mulching is an easy way to conserve moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature. Organic mulches like straw, bark, or compost break down over time, enriching the soil. Inorganic mulches like river rock are longer-lasting and offer aesthetic appeal.

For vegetable gardens or annual flower beds, opt for mulch that decomposes within a season. For perennials, use wood chips or bark that last longer. Be sure not to pile mulch too close to plant stems, as excess moisture can lead to rot.

8. Maintain Your Garden Regularly

Once your garden is built and ready to go, regular maintenance will keep it thriving. Be patient and attentive to what your garden needs. Here are some essential upkeep tasks:

• Watering

• Weeding

• Pruning

• Pest Control

• Staking and Support

• Harvesting

Insect Management and Weed Control

Maintaining a successful vegetable garden involves effective insect management and weed control. To keep pests at bay, consider integrated pest management techniques. Introducing beneficial insects, such as ladybugs and predatory beetles, can help control harmful pests naturally. Like removing dead plant material and debris, good garden hygiene reduces pest habitats.

A combination of physical barriers, mulch, and hand-weeding works best for weed control. Mulch not only suppresses weeds but also retains soil moisture and regulates temperature. Regularly inspect your garden for signs of pests and diseases, and act promptly to prevent issues from escalating. By staying vigilant and proactive, you can ensure your vegetable plants thrive without the competition from weeds or damage from pests.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Even the most well-tended vegetable gardens can encounter problems like pests, diseases, and nutrient deficiencies. It’s not entirely your fault. Nature has its way of keeping biodiversity thriving, and plants are definitely part of this food chain. The key to troubleshooting these issues is early identification and prompt action. For instance, yellowing leaves might indicate a nutrient deficiency. Adding organic matter or appropriate fertilizers can often resolve this issue.

If pests are the problem, consider introducing beneficial insects or using organic pest control methods. Regularly monitoring your garden allows you to catch issues early before they become severe. Researching and understanding common garden problems can equip you with the knowledge to address them effectively, ensuring your vegetable garden remains healthy and productive.

Extending the Growing Season

Consider techniques to extend your garden's productivity to enjoy fresh vegetables beyond the typical growing season. Cold frames, hoop houses, and row covers protect from frost and extreme weather, allowing you to grow vegetables year-round. These structures create a microclimate that shields plants from harsh conditions.

Another effective method is succession planting, where you plant small batches of seeds every few weeks. This staggered planting schedule ensures a continuous harvest throughout the season. Alternating crops is also an option to have a continuous year of planting. By practicing these techniques, you can maximize your garden’s output and enjoy a longer growing season (maybe even have it all year round!), leading to a more bountiful harvest.

Benefits of Starting Your Own Garden

Gardening offers numerous benefits beyond just growing plants. Planting enrichies your everyday life whether enjoyed personally or shared with others. It promotes mental well-being, reduces stress, and provides a sense of accomplishment. Homegrown produce also provides fresher and more nutritious produce than store-bought alternatives. Planting flowers brings beauty and biodiversity to your space. Additionally, gardening fosters environmental awareness, improves soil health, and creates a natural habitat for pollinators like bees and butterflies.

Enjoy Your Fruits of Labor

Congratulations on cultivating a thriving vegetable and floral garden! Now comes the rewarding part—enjoying the fruits of your labor, pun intended! Regularly harvest your vegetables to encourage ongoing production. Watching your floral plants grow from buds to complete blooms also gives great satisfaction.

Here’s an idea: why not consider preserving some of your bounty through canning, freezing, or dehydrating so you can enjoy your homegrown produce year-round?

Sharing your harvest with friends and family can also be incredibly satisfying. Giving someone a flower you've grown yourself adds a special personal element, making it a gift that can be more meaningful than anything plastic or from a shop. Reflect on your gardening experience, take notes on what worked well, and think about areas for improvement. This reflection will help you enhance and expand your garden in the future. Enjoy the fresh, healthy produce from your own garden and the sense of accomplishment that comes with it.

 

5 Gardening Books to Help You Get Started

1. The First-time Gardener: All the know-how and encouragement you need to grow your brand new food garden

Looking to start your own garden and grow your own food? First-Time Gardener has everything you need to know when starting your own gardening journey.

Homesteader Jessica Sowards, the warm and energetic host of YouTube’s Roots and Refuge Farm, is the perfect teacher for new gardeners, offering know-how, inspiration, and time-management tips for success.

Before you sink your hands into the soil, she’ll answer all those questions rolling around inside your head:

• Where do I put my new garden?

• How do I prepare the soil?

• What vegetables should I plant?

• Is it better to start new plants from seed, or should I buy transplants?

• What about watering, feeding, and taking care of my garden?

• What do I do if bugs show up?

There are no stupid questions here. Everyone has to start somewhere, after all.

Not only will you learn how to prepare, plant, and tend your first vegetable garden, you’ll also learn:

• How to design an eco-friendly layout

• How to grow with the seasons

• How to maximize your harvest, even if you only grow in a small space

Jessica wants your first food-growing experience to be positive, and she’s prepared to go the distance to make sure tending the earth becomes your new favorite hobby.

A single growing season is all it takes to fall in love with growing your own healthy, organic, nutrient-dense food. With Jessica as your guide, you’ll soon discover all the satisfactions, challenges, and great joys of growing your own food garden.

2. Gardening for Abundance: Your Guide to Cultivating a Bountiful Veggie Garden and a Happier Life

Grow a Flourishing Vegetable Garden While Feeding Your Spirit with Gardening for Abundance!

From planting your first seedlings to harvesting your crops and everything in between, gardener and homesteader Brian Brigantti helps you create a thriving vegetable garden right in your own backyard―all while giving you valuable insights into nourishing your soul through abundant living.

What's inside this book:

• Woven in with his own insights and experiences, Brian walks you through the process of starting an abundant garden from start to finish.

• A primer on soil health, composting, establishing biodiversity, and more sets you and your garden up for success.

• Then, learn methods for building out plots, choosing the best veggies for your climate and soil, and tending to your garden throughout the seasons.

Along the way, Brian shares his observations on the symbolism of gardening and the ways it can teach you about the joys of living a happier, more abundant life. Using only natural, chemical-free techniques that honor, respect, and sustain the earth, Brian’s cultivating a bountiful garden results in a cornucopia of homegrown vegetables and a deeper sense of connection with the earth, your food, and yourself.

 

3. The Money-Saving Gardener

Beat the rising cost of living and transform your garden on a budget with Anya the Garden Fairy.

The Money-Saving Gardener reveals the tips and tricks to keep costs down without compromising on style or impact. Learn how to repurpose what you have and give new life to second-hand garden furniture; discover savvy cheats to keep hard landscaping costs low; and boost your plant collection for next to nothing with seed-saving and propagation hacks. 

Revealing the plants that will give you the best long-term value for money, tips for choosing the varieties that will thrive in your garden year after year, and projects for making the most of your propagated cuttings and seedlings, The Money-Saving Gardener proves that a stunning garden doesn’t need to cost the earth or break the bank.

 

4. All New Square Foot Gardening, 3rd Edition, Fully Updated: MORE Projects - NEW Solutions - GROW Vegetables Anywhere

The 3rd edition of the All New Square Foot Gardening is now loaded with more projects and solutions - allowing you to grow your fruits and vegetables anytime, anywhere.

Since Square Foot Gardening was first introduced in 1981, the revolutionary new way to garden developed by Mel Bartholomew has helped millions of home gardeners grow more fresh produce in less space and with less work. Now, mainly based on the input and experience of these millions, the system has been even further refined and improved to fully meet today’s changing resources, needs, and challenges.

With over 150 new photos and illustrations, this new edition makes it easier to achieve nearly foolproof results in virtually any situation:100% of the produce, 20% of the water, and 5% of the work.

Perfect for experienced Square-Foot-Gardeners or beginners, the original method created by Mel has not changed in any significant way with this new 3rd edition of All New Square Foot Gardening. It remains: build a box, fill it with Mel’s Mix, and add a grid.

But along with the classic steps, you will find some interesting and compelling new information, such as:

• Adding trellises and archways

• Substituting with new materials

• Adding automatic watering systems

• “Thinking Outside the Box” with creative configurations and shapes

• Square Foot Gardening in dense urban areas with little or no yard

• Square Foot Gardening with kids

• Crop protection

Don’t wait another season to try Mel’s brilliant approach to gardening! We’re sure it will work for you, and you won’t look back.

 

5. Seed to Table: A Seasonal Guide to Organically Growing, Cooking, and Preserving Food at Home

Learn to garden in any space with Seed to Table, grow and cook nutrient-dense foods to take your gardening and cooking to the next level!

Gardening, cooking, and eating done right! Seed to Table focuses on how to feed your family with nutritious foods from your own outdoor, home, and/or kitchen garden. Whether you live in a city or the country, this book gives you tools for effective growing techniques, seed-starting methods, and garden maintenance. 

Organic gardening for every individual style! Have fun creating your own gardening system, whether for a container or kitchen garden. Try out big and small garden ideas to stock your fridge with delicious fruits, vegetables, and herbs to grow your self-sufficiency. Maximize your minimal or ample space with impactful practices that are perfect for anyone on a sustainability and self-sufficiency journey.

Inside Seed to Table, you’ll find:

• A full and in-depth guide on preserving foods while cultivating homegrown foods

• Easy and delicious vegetable-forward recipes and preservation techniques to feed your whole family

• Effective urban gardening tools to create a garden in a patio garden, rooftop space, or any space

 

Grab a spiral bound copy of Seed to Table today!

FAQs

1. When Should You Start a Garden?

The best time to start a garden depends on what you plan to grow. In most regions, spring is ideal for planting vegetables and flowers, while fall is a great time to prepare the soil for the following season. Cold-hardy plants can be started earlier, while warm-weather crops should be planted after the last frost.

2. What Tools Should I Prepare for Starting a Garden?

Having the right tools makes gardening easier and more enjoyable. Essential tools include:

• Shovel: For digging and moving soil

• Garden Fork: For loosening compacted soil

• Trowel: For planting small plants and seedlings

• Pruning Shears: For trimming plants and removing dead growth

• Watering Can or Hose: To keep plants hydrated

• Rake: For clearing leaves and leveling soil

• Gloves: To protect your hands from dirt and thorns

You can find these tools at your local garden center and get expert advice on soil quality and plant selection. Online stores dedicated to gardening also provide good resources for all these materials. They may even provide videos and other context if you use these essential tools.

Garden centers are valuable resources for sourcing organic compost and receiving guidance from experienced local gardeners.

Conclusion

Starting a garden is a fulfilling and enjoyable journey. You can create a beautiful and productive space by selecting the right location, preparing the soil, choosing suitable plants, and maintaining your garden regularly.

The first step is to learn about your geography and the plants you want to tend to. Having the right resources will help you have a good foundation and have a fruitful, lush garden. Consistently expanding your knowledge about plants, soil, and other materials will also expand your garden in more ways than one.

A garden cultivated with patience and care provides more than just food and flowers; it fosters a connection to nature and a deep sense of accomplishment. Whether shared as gifts or savored personally, the rewards of gardening are truly fulfilling.

So grab your gardening gloves and start planting—your perfect garden awaits!