Introduction

Gardening is a wonderful hobby. I should know, I’ve been doing it for over ten years! Over that time, I’ve learned a lot about what works and what doesn’t. For example, growing an herb garden on my apartment balcony in Chicago was a challenge because of the wind (let’s just say chives have a mind of their own). But even though it felt like nothing would grow up there, eventually I figured out solutions to these challenges and learned to love the process. It makes me feel so much closer to nature and gives me time to relax after work or on weekends. In this blog post, I’ll share some tips from my experience as well as resources you can use if you’re just starting out with gardening too!

Start small

I suggest starting small. Don’t set your sights on growing a huge garden right off the bat, because it will be overwhelming. Instead, start with something manageable and work your way up from there. You’ll be more likely to stick with it this way!

Make sure that if you do go big, you don’t try to grow too many different things at once (example: tomatoes AND lettuce). It’s important to space out what you’re growing so that everything gets enough water and attention. When I first started gardening, I planted several different types of tomatoes in one bed; this ended with me having no ripe tomatoes by the end of the summer because I didn’t have enough time or energy left over after watering all those thirsty plants!

It is also not recommended that you cram as many plants into one small space as possible—this can lead to overcrowding which leads to less healthy plants overall!

Use a garden plan

As you begin your journey into the world of gardening, it’s important to have a plan. A garden plan is a map that shows where you want each plant in your garden, how large they should be and when they should be planted. Garden plans can be free or low-cost, depending on what type of plan you choose. There are many different types of garden plans available online at sites like Google Images or Pinterest (I personally use this site). If you don’t mind spending a little extra money for convenience, there are also plenty of websites that offer paid garden planning services as well.

To help you get started making your own garden planner:

• Gather supplies such as paper and pen/pencils for writing down notes about plants and gardening tips/info. You should also consider whether or not having access to an internet connection would help make things easier for yourself when starting out with this project!

Prep the soil

• Prep the soil

To start, you need to prepare your soil. This means turning it over and adding compost and fertilizer (if you have purchased them). If you are new to gardening, don’t worry if your garden doesn’t look like an expert’s right away—it takes time. You will notice results as the season progresses! Here is a quick list of things that should be done before planting anything in your garden:

• Turn over the soil with a shovel or tiller
• Add compost or manure if needed (this helps add nutrients back into the soil)
• Add lime if needed (soil pH balance)

Take advantage of free or low-cost resources

There are many ways to save money on your garden, and one of them is to take advantage of free or low-cost resources. There’s no shame in asking for help if you’re not sure what you’re doing—it may seem like a simple concept, but there are plenty of people who have been gardening for years who still don’t know everything about it!

If you have some extra time and aren’t afraid to ask for questions, consider volunteering at a community garden near your house. Not only will this give back to the community, but it can also provide great opportunities for learning new skills (and possibly networking). If volunteering isn’t an option yet, I would recommend starting small with growing herbs or vegetables indoors on a windowsill until they get big enough before transplanting them outside where they’ll receive more sun exposure than inside the house which could be too much heat depending on how close they’re grown next door window itself (with open blinds).

Be flexible and open to change

The second tip is to be flexible and open to change. You can always change your mind, or add or remove plants, or change your garden plan, or even the tools you use in your garden. Even soil changes over time as it gets used and broken down by plants growing in it—so there’s no reason why you shouldn’t go back and amend it once a year with some compost if needed!

Know your zone

Knowing your USDA zone is a good place to start. The USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) has divided the entire United States into 11 regions and each region is assigned a zone, depending on its average temperature during the year. Knowing your zone will determine what plants grow best in your area. For example, if you live in New Orleans but your USDA climate classifies you as being in Zone 6b (a warm temperate climate), then you should plant cucumbers and pumpkins because they are very appropriate for that type of weather.

If you want to know more about this topic, check out our article “Frost Dates” below!

Read up on what you want to grow

As with any new endeavor, it helps to do some research. Before you buy anything and start your garden, read up on what you want to grow. Learn about the different types of plants that are best suited for your climate, soil type and fertilizers. You’ll also want to know how much water they need and which watering systems work best for each type of plant. Knowing this information will save you money in the long run because it allows you to avoid buying unnecessary products or tools that won’t be effective on your specific plants (or in certain areas).

Also learn about pest control methods so that you can keep your garden healthy without using chemicals unnecessarily.

Purchase high-quality tools and supplies

• When it comes to gardening tools, it’s important to invest in high-quality supplies. This will ensure that you get the most out of your investment and that you can use those tools for many years to come.
• A good set of pruners can be used for many different jobs around the garden, from cutting back plants to trimming small branches off trees.
• The best way to take care of your plants is by using quality tools and supplies that won’t break or wear down as quickly as cheaper options might do.

Wait to plant until all danger of frost has passed. You can use an app like Frost Dates to help you determine when that will be.

You should wait until the last frost date for your area has passed. This way, if a late spring frost does occur, it won’t damage your newly planted garden plants. You can check with your local extension office or use an app like Frost Dates to determine when this is.

You can also use a frost blanket or row covers to protect plants until they are established.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

When it comes to gardening, there is no shame in asking for help. You may know everything about how to grow the most delicious tomatoes or how to care for your basil plants, but if you are new to gardening then you will need some guidance and mentorship.

You can ask questions on social media like Facebook or Instagram, as well as through email. Look up websites with tips on growing food and plants and read through them! You might even find a website that has a question section where people can post their issues they’re having with their gardens (or lack thereof). This allows other gardeners who have already gone through these problems before to help out by answering other peoples’ questions with their own personal experiences! But remember not all of those answers will be helpful; so always trust your own instincts when deciding whether or not something works or doesn’t work for your situation – because ultimately only YOU know what’s best for YOUR specific needs/situation!

Even if you are a long-time gardener, there are always new things to learn about gardening.

Even if you are a long-time gardener, there are always new things to learn about gardening. Whether it’s tips on how to grow your garden better or how to use what you already have in your garden better, there are many resources out there that can help you do this. There are books and websites available that cover everything from beginner gardening skills all the way up through advanced techniques for growing specific types of plants.

There is also a wealth of information online (including here on this site). Most people who have gardens have learned from others; they have read some books or gone online and taken classes somewhere along the way. But even if you don’t know anyone else who gardens now, chances are good that there is someone nearby who does! You can always ask questions through social media or local garden clubs (which usually meet at different times of day throughout most cities).

Conclusion

Let’s review a few key points to keep in mind as you embark on your gardening journey:

Start small. A garden can be as small or large as you want, but it’s always best to start with just what you need. You can always add more later on!

Use a garden plan. Having a plan for your garden will help you stay organized and remember what you planted where. It will also help prevent overcrowding and other problems that can arise from poor plant placement in the soil or too much shade from surrounding trees or buildings. Plus, it helps ensure that all those plants get the nutrients they need!

Prep the soil before planting. This ensures that all those little seedlings have an optimal environment to grow strong roots in, which will make them healthier plants overall (and hopefully give more crops). If possible try using organic products like compost instead of chemical fertilizers because these are better for both humans and nature alike!

Take advantage of free resources online when researching what plants might work best with one another while also taking into account things like climate conditions in your area so they don’t die off prematurely due to frost or drought conditions during certain seasons throughout year time frame range months span periods seasonal weather changes fluctuate over time frame . For example, if there may be frequent rain showers expected sometime soon then don’t plant anything too big since it won’t have enough room in its container until after those storms pass by with no rainfall at all left behind them until next season comes around again (or if ever) when ground dry —as opposed to planting something large now and having no way of getting rid because waterlogged earth has already taken up space inside pot making movement impossible without breaking down roots system thereby killing poor little thing before even got chance live life properly by seeing world outside cramped home! So pin