These Are the Best Tips on Gardening for Beginners, According to the Pros

You don't need a green thumb to become an at-home gardener.

Have you decided to try your hand at gardening but need help figuring out where to start? The great thing about gardening is you can learn as you grow, but there are some tips that can make the process much easier and increase the survival rate of your plants and flowers. Because, let's be honest, it can be a bummer to put in all that effort and have nothing to show for it.

So, whether you want to plant a vegetable garden, grow herbs, or add a whimsical flower garden to your yard, these expert tips will help you get started and teach you mistakes to avoid.

Related: 24 Easiest Vegetables, Fruits, and Herbs to Grow for Beginners

How to Start Gardening for Beginners

We spoke with the experts to provide the very best gardening tips for beginners, so you have the skills and knowledge you need to grow whatever garden you desire.

Make Friends with Fellow Gardening Experts

"As with any new hobby, gardening can be intimidating for beginners. But, like anything new, jumping in headfirst is usually the best way to get started,"  says Nathan Heinrich, horticulturist and botanical designer. "If you're struggling to know where to begin, one of the best ways to pump up your confidence level before getting your hands dirty in the garden is to learn from the experts."

Not sure exactly how to connect with experts? Heinrich says social media is the best place to find gardening professionals. YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook are all excellent resources to find experts who will give new gardeners great (and free!) tips to get started.

Grab Gardening Tools and Gear

Before you start your gardening project, you need to get the proper gardening tools and gear. Having the right tools for the job will make gardening much easier and protect you from thistles, thorns, and other hazards.

"Gardening tools like trowels, pruners, and watering cans are essential," says Jane Dobbs expert gardener and gardening team lead at Allan's Gardeners. "And don't forget to wear gloves and knee pads when gardening."

You can find affordable gardening tools on sites such as Amazon or at your local garden center.

Pick the Right Spot

Depending on where you live and the yard space available to you, there are a couple different ways to choose the best spot (or spots) for your garden. If you've got lots healthy yard space to choose from, you can pick a garden spot based on the plants and flowers you want to grow. Or, if your options are more limited, you may need to pick the plants and flowers based on the garden plot you have available.

"Gardening starts with choosing a good spot for your plants," Dobbs advises. "If you have a sunny spot for sun-loving flowers or a shady spot for leafy greens, you need to know your space. Pick your plants based on climate, soil type, and sun exposure."

She continues, “For newbie gardeners, succulents, herbs, and perennials are great choices. The plants don't mind a little neglect and are easy to look after."

Related: The 16 Best Outdoor Shade Plants for Spots That Don't Get Sunlight

Choose Plants that are Easy to Grow

Melvin Cubian, a certified botanist and gardening expert for the PlantIn App, says that while gardening for beginners can be challenging, you can increase your chance of success by opting for simple plants whose cultivation methods are not laborious or time-consuming.

"It is best to choose salad greens such as lettuce, kale, chard, spinach, and other leaf vegetables," he says. "Herbs like chives, sweet basil, and mint are also non-demanding crops." This is because they have a short life cycle, and fertilization is not needed, especially if the soil is well-prepared, Cubian explains.

He continues, "Regarding the cultivation techniques, you want to start something small-scale and straightforward, like growing several pots on a windowsill. If you manage to successfully reap your leafy greens or herbs, you just earned a badge for more heavy-duty gardening outdoors."

Get the Soil Right

Dobbs says that good soil makes a great garden. Having a basic understanding of the soil type makes planting easier. Every soil type needs attention, whether it's sand that drains fast or clay that retains moisture.

For example, when you're gardening in raised beds, use a raised bed mix. The mixes like these are designed to give raised beds the best drainage and aeration. Adding compost to your soil can improve its structure and fertility. It keeps plants moist and nourished.

"A lightweight potting mix provides good drainage and aeration for container gardening. Garden soil is used for a wide variety of outdoor plants. By blending topsoil, compost, and other organic matter, it provides nutrients and good drainage," she explains.

"When choosing soil, think about your plants' specific needs, like drainage and pH. Testing your soil's pH and nutrients will help you create the perfect growing environment. Get soil samples from different parts of your garden. pH testers can tell you your soil's pH."

Learn How to Sow Seeds and Transplant

Dobbs says that it's also important to know how to sow seeds and transplant. "It's all about getting the right planting depth and gently transplanting seedlings. It's best to plant small seeds near the surface of the soil, like lettuce or carrots. You will want to plant them about 1-2 cm deep," she informs.

"It's okay to plant medium seeds deeper, like beans or peas. You can put them about 2.5 cm deep. The seeds of larger plants, like squash and sunflowers, need to be planted deeper. You'll need to sow these seeds at 5 cm."

When it comes to transplanting each plant can be different. But a good rule of thumb is to wait until the seedling has developed at least 3-4 true leaves on it.

Use Proper Watering Techniques and Schedules

"Good watering techniques, like watering at the base of plants, can prevent foliage diseases. The frequency of watering depends on the plant, the soil moisture level, and the weather. Don't soak the soil, just keep it moist," Dobbs advises.

For instance, plants such as succulents don't require a regular watering schedule, while other types of plants, such as hydrangeas need to be watered more frequently. So, make sure you learn about what your plants need so you can water them accordingly.

Related: How to Water Plants: 7 Tips to Keep Plants Thriving

Start with a Simple Garden and Grow From There

One of the best tips for beginner gardeners is to start with a simple garden or flower bed. "In the beginning, the key is to chalk up some wins by keeping it simple. This will keep you from becoming discouraged and feeling like you aren't blessed by the myth of a 'green thumb.' Anyone can become a great gardener, just be patient, and don't get discouraged by plants that don't thrive on your first try," Heinrich encourages.

"I like to think of each new gardening project as an experiment, it really helps to take the pressure off."

What to Grow for Beginner Gardeners

Cubian suggests starting with plants, flowers, and vegetables that are easy to grow. "As mentioned previously, I would recommend growing the easiest ones first, the ones where you can see your hard work in a matter of a month or two. This way, you will be more motivated to upgrade your garden if you get more serious with tending vegetables as a hobby," he says.

"Leafy vegetables such as iceberg lettuce, romaine, spinach, chard, or cabbage are always a gardener's favorite. If you decide to up your crops that have a longer cultivation period, choose the ones that are not so finicky such as, zucchini, cucumber, peas, squash, beans, or chili peppers."

Dobbs advises that there are several herbs, plants, and flowers that are easy for beginners to start growing. For example, basil grows well indoors and outdoors and is relatively easy to grow from seed. Tomatoes also offer a variety of options, and you can grow them in pots or in the ground.

"The fragrant lavender plant is drought-tolerant and doesn't need much attention once it's established. Colorful zinnias are easy to grow from seed, and they're good for pollinators. You can grow marigolds from seeds, and they're good for repelling pests. Succulents are easy to care for and require minimal watering, making them perfect for beginners," she says.

Related: 24 Easiest Vegetables, Fruits, and Herbs to Grow for Beginners

Biggest Mistakes that Beginner Gardeners Make

Gardening takes patience and you will gain experience along the way. However, you can avoid some beginner gardening mistakes if you apply the experts' advice.

Heinrich advises not to get too many gardening projects going at the same time when you're a new gardener.  "A yard or garden filled with tons of potted plants that need to be watered and cared for daily can lead to burnout—not to mention you will feel chained to your plants and you'll have to hire a plant-sitter to care for your precious plants when you're traveling," he warns.

Cubian says that one of the biggest mistakes is mismatching crops in your garden. "It is understandable that you have a preference for a specific crop over others. However, it is a fundamental process to consider what crops can be grown in your zone and what conditions your garden can provide," he explains.

"Is it well drained? Does it get lots of sun? Do you have enough space? All these questions must be answered first. Once you know the crops to grow, your plant shall do the rest. Mistakes on proper soil medium are never an issue since you already know which ones to grow in the very beginning."

It's essential to know that gardening is a process and not to give up even if you have a slow start.

"One of the frustrations of many novice growers is that when they see a wilting plant, they simply give up and forget other plants. Even the best gardeners and botanists have been in the same shoes, and the important thing is to learn from mistakes. After all, gardening is sometimes a trial and error method because of the variable conditions that you may have in your locality," Cubian explains.

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