Know what you’re working with
Knowing where the sun hits the ground will help you decide what to plant where. Is it south-facing, north-facing, somewhere in between? Also, look at your soil. It’s easy to do a soil test to see if your garden is more acidic or alkaline. Different plants prefer different soils.
Prepare your garden
Planting your plants the right way will ensure that they grow well and live for a long time. Take the time to weed and prepare the soil before you plant anything—and add mulch or fertilizer where you need it.
Plan, plan, plan!
Garden centers are beautiful places—and it’s so easy to get carried away! Sit down with a pen and paper beforehand and really plan out your garden. This way, you won’t end up with a jumble of plants that don’t look good together and might not suit your growing conditions.
Feed and water regularly
Knowing how to water your plants could very well mean the difference between life and death! Generally, you’ll want to water the root ball rather than the leaves—since the roots are what absorbs water. Soaking the roots weekly might be better than watering a little bit every day.
Watch out for pests!
Keep an eye out for increasing numbers of pests like aphids, slugs, or snails. They’re the most notorious predators in the gardening world.
Compost and prune
Composting kitchen and garden waste is good for the environment as well as your garden. Let it break down for a year and then use it as a mulch around the base of your plants. When it comes to pruning, you’ll definitely want to do some homework. But when done properly, it makes a world of difference!