Gardening for Beginners: Where to Start

So, you’ve read how good gardening is for both your mental and physical health. Now you fancy flexing your green fingers and giving it a go yourself – spending time in the fresh air, while producing an outdoor space to be proud of.

But, where do you start?

Perhaps you have never had a garden before and therefore the opportunity to do a spot of gardening has only just presented itself or you have never had any interest in it until now. Either way, you need to start somewhere – whether you only have a small patio or a large expanse of luscious green grass, you will be able to find ways to ease yourself into it.

The very first thing you need to do doesn’t even need to take place in the garden – although it can, of course, if the weather is on your side. First things first you need to do some research, take a look at sites such as the RHS for gardening advice and plant information. At the same time have a nosey around sites including bakker.com, where alongside even more tips and tricks, you can find the products and plants you need to get started.

Now you have started to fill your shed with supplies, it is time to make a plan – think about the bigger picture and how you would like your garden to eventually look. You should also plan for anything going wrong such as shed windows being broken. Look to buy a few replacements like Simply Plastics Shed Windows. This will ensure you’re prepared for the worst!. You can start by placing bulbs and plants above the soil while doing this. This will also help you to give the plants enough space. If you place plants too close together they may not all survive and, if they do, they will be more susceptible to disease.

Finally, you can get your hands dirty…

First you should determine your soil type; is it light and sandy or heavy and clay? Certain plants will thrive better in one type rather than the other.

You may like to start with containers or hanging baskets – these are easier to have a play around with and are ideal even if you only have a balcony or a patio.

You may also want to start with easy to grow and hardy plants such as Sunflowers, Sweet Peas, Marigolds, Fuchsias and Pansies. These flowers are all vibrant and pretty – they will add interest and colour to your garden but you can almost guarantee they will do so without issue. The Fuchsias in particular are perfect for hanging baskets and containers.

Don’t forget to label everything – this is something easily forgotten by first time gardeners – but otherwise you won’t know what you have planted and where. Simply write a plant label and pop it into the ground next to the seeds, bulbs or plants as you go.

Most importantly – have fun! Gardening isn’t supposed to be a chore, it is meant to be an enjoyable experience, a pleasant way to spend the time that comes with added health benefits and beautiful results. So, take your time – and if something doesn’t work out for you, just try it again. Most plants and shrubs, even young trees, can be uprooted and replanted.