How to Start Your First Garden in 10 Simple Steps

Starting a garden from scratch as a beginner can seem daunting. One of the best ways to ease into gardening is to break your project down into manageable steps. Whether you want to start a vegetable garden or a flower garden, or maybe even both, this step-by-step guide will soon have you enjoying delicious flavors and colorful blooms that you grew yourself.

Do you want to plant a vegetable garden? An herb garden? A flower garden? If you choose vegetables and herbs for their contributions to your dinner table, plant ones your family will eat or be willing to try. If you want flowers for their color and fragrance, decide whether you want annuals that bloom most of the summer but need to be replanted each spring or perennials that have a shorter bloom time but return year after year. Each one, or even a combination, makes a stunning garden but will have different maintenance requirements.

Almost all vegetables and many types of flowering plants need 6-8 hours of full sun each day. So you need to observe your yard throughout the day to figure out which spots receive full sun versus partial or full shade. Don’t worry if your yard is mostly shady: You won’t be able to grow tomatoes in shade, but many other plants (such as hostas and outdoor ferns) will do just fine. Check plant tags or ask the staff at your local garden center to help you understand out how much sun a plant needs.

If possible, pick a relatively flat spot for your garden because it’s more difficult, time-consuming, and potentially expensive to deal with a sloping garden. And make sure your new garden will have easy access to a water source.

Get rid of weeds and sod in the area you plan to plant. If you want quick results—for example, if it’s already spring and you want veggies this summer—cut it out. Slice under the sod with a spade. Cut the sod into sections to make it easier to remove.

For a longer term project, it’s easier to use the lasagna gardening method: Cover your future garden with five sheets of newspaper; double that amount if your lawn is Bermuda grass or St. Augustine grass. Spread a 3-inch layer of compost (or combination of potting soil and topsoil) on the newspaper. Water everything and wait. It’ll take about four months for the compost and paper to decompose. But if you start in the fall, by spring you’ll have a bed ready to plant with no grass or weeds and plenty of rich soil.

To learn more about your soil, have a soil test done through your cooperative extension office. They’ll lead you through the procedure: How much soil to send from which parts of the garden and the best time to obtain samples. Expect a two-week wait for the findings, which will tell you what your soil lacks and how to amend it. You can also use a DIY kit that may not be as detailed, but will give you an idea of your soil’s nutrient levels.

Residential soil almost always needs a boost, especially in new construction where the topsoil may have been stripped away. In addition to being low in essential plant nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus, your soil may also have poor drainage or be compacted. The solution is usually simple: Adding plenty of organic matter.

Add a 2- to 3-inch layer of compost to the soil when you dig or till a new bed. If you decide not to dig or are working with an established bed, leave the organic matter on the surface where it will eventually turn into humus (organic material). Earthworms will do most of the work of mixing humus in with the subsoil.

Loosening the soil in new beds before sowing or planting helps new roots grow more easily and access the water and nutrients they need. There are two methods: tilling with a mechanical device such as a rototiller, or digging by hand. The first one is a good method when you need to mix in large amounts of amendments. However, it’s easy to overdo it, which will end up damaging soil structure. Digging is more practical for preparing small beds.

Either way, work the soil only when it’s moist enough to form a loose ball in your fist but dry enough to fall apart when you drop it. Digging when the soil is too dry is harder work, and you can damage the soil structure if it’s too wet. Use a spade or spading fork to gently turn the top 6-8 inches of soil, mixing in the organic matter from Step 4 at the same time. Walking on prepared beds compacts the soil, so lay down plywood boards temporarily to evenly distribute your weight.

Some people pore over catalogs for months; others head to the garden center and grab whatever catches their eye. Either way, the most important thing is to choose plants adapted to your climate, soil, and sunlight. Here are a few easy-to-grow plants for beginners:

• Annuals: Calendula, cosmos, geraniums, impatiens, marigolds, sunflowers, and zinnias
• Perennials: Black-eyed Susans, daylilies, lamb’s ears, pansies, phlox, purple coneflowers, and Russian sage
• Vegetables: Cucumbers, lettuce, peppers, and tomatoes

Some plants, such as pansies and kale, tolerate cold, so you can plant them in autumn or late winter. Tomatoes and most annual flowers, on the other hand, prefer warm temperatures, so don’t plant them until the danger of frost has passed in your area. Mid spring and mid autumn are good times to plant perennials.

Many annuals are easy to grow from seed sown directly in the garden. Be sure to read the seed packet for information about planting time, depth, and spacing. If you’re an adventurous beginner, get a head start on the growing season by sowing seeds indoors a few weeks before the last frost date. There are containers or flats designed especially for seedlings and seed-starting soil mixes available at garden centers. Follow seed packet instructions and place the containers on a sunny windowsill or under grow lights if you don’t have window space. Be sure to keep the seeds and seedlings moist but not wet, or they may rot.

An easier method of starting your garden is to buy young plants that you can transplant where you want them to grow. Dig holes in your prepared bed based on tag instructions. Remove plants from the container by pushing up from the bottom. If the roots have grown into a big ball (known as being root-bound), use an old fork or your fingers to untangle some outer roots before setting it into the hole. Pat soil into place around the roots, then soak the soil with water.

Seedlings should never be allowed to dry out, so water daily. Taper off as the plants get larger. Transplants also need frequent watering (every other day or so) until their roots become established. After that, how often you need to water depends on your soil, humidity, and rainfall, though once a week is a good place to start.

Clay soil dries out more slowly than sandy soil, so you won’t need to water it as often. Sunny, windy conditions dry out soil more quickly than cool, cloudy weather. Still not sure? Feel the soil 3-4 inches below the surface. If it feels dry, it’s time to water. Water slowly and deeply, so the water soaks in instead of running off. To minimize evaporation, water in the early morning.

To help keep weeds out and moisture in, cover the soil with a couple of inches of mulch. You won’t have to water as often, and by preventing sunlight from hitting the soil, you’ll prevent weed seeds from germinating. Just make sure not to mulch over seeds you want to grow or they may not sprout either.

Choose from a wide variety of mulches, each with its own benefits, including shredded bark, straw, and river rock. If you use organic mulch, such as bark, compost, or straw, it will nourish the soil as it decomposes. For a vegetable garden or bed of annuals, choose a mulch that decomposes in a few months. For perennials, use a longer-lasting mulch such as bark chips.

As your garden begins to grow, help it reach its full potential by keeping up with garden chores. Water the plants before they wilt. Pull weeds before they go to seed. Get rid of dead, dying, and diseased vegetation. Banish destructive insects by picking them off the plant and dropping them into a bucket of sudsy water, hosing them off, or using an insecticidal soap purchased at a garden center. Support tall plants (such as tomatoes) with a trellis, stake, or a tepee. Also, harvest vegetables as soon as they’re ready. And remember to stop and smell the…well, whatever it is you’re growing.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Spring is usually the best time to start a new garden but plants may be added in spring or autumn, depending on the type of plant. Plants that thrive in the cold, like pansies and kale, can be planted in autumn or winter in mild climates. Annuals and tomatoes should be planted when the weather warms up and after the last frost date. Plant perennials in mid-spring or mid-autumn.

• Every beginning gardener needs a few essential tools: garden gloves; pruning shears; watering can; hand trowel; hose; garden kneeler; leaf rake; and shovel or spade.