Beginner's Guide to GardeningGardening can be intimidating for beginners. Start gardening secrets and gradually build your skills.Consider growing vegetables that are easy to grow, like beans, peas and radishes. Take a walk around the garden each day particularly when the watering system is running. This will let you catch problems early on in the beginning, when they're small and easy to fix.Select Your Plants CarefullyAs a novice gardener you should pick plants that are easy to cultivate and require little or no maintenance. Avoid tropical plants as they are unlikely to survive your climate. Instead, choose flowers or vegetables that grow well in your region. If you live in an area which is sunny and warm you can plant easy-to-grow herbs or vegetables like peppers. If you have a shady area in your yard, plant a flowering groundcover such as thyme or lilyturf to fill in the space.For added enjoyment You can also plant plants and flowers that attract butterflies and Hummingbirds. It is important to think about how much time you will spend on your garden when selecting plants. Some plants require more attention than others, and a few require trimming or weeded on a regular basis.Over-planting is one of the most common beginner mistakes. Start small and gradually build your garden rather than trying to tackle too much all at once. If you're looking to grow your own vegetable garden for yourself and your family make sure you only plant the veggies you will eat. Avoid planting vegetables such as corn or squash, which are difficult to grow.Know Your Soil TypeIt is important to consider the plants that can thrive in your soil before you start a garden. Certain crops require certain conditions, like rich and moist soils, whereas others prefer sandy or clay-based ones.The type of soil that is in your yard will determine how many fruits and vegetables you can successfully grow. To find out the type of soil you have, try the "finger test." First, you need to dampen a handful of your dirt and rub it between your fingers. Clay soil is sticky and leaves a slimy layer on the tips of your fingers. Sandy soil is made up of coarse particles that crumble easily. Silty soil has a powdery texture, and peaty soil has a spongy feel.Loamy soil is a great mix of sand and silt. This kind of soil is ideal for lawns, gardening and shrubs. It's water-holding and rich in nutrients. It is extremely warm in spring and summer, and is easily cultivated. beginning gardening tips is also acidic. If your soil is not loamy, you can make it better by adding organic matter.Don't forget about WaterRemember that your plants require regular watering, regardless of whether you're growing vegetables, or flowers. For gardeners who are just beginning it may seem like an overwhelming task in case you're not accustomed to it, but it is essential to the health of your plants.Make gardening tips that your new garden is placed close to a water source which will save you on long walks utilizing the hose or lugging buckets to fill them up. Plan to water your garden at least once a week, depending on the weather. If you water your garden, soak the soil instead of merely watering it. The goal is to moisten up the soil so that you have enough water.Select crops that are simple for novices to grow when making plans for a garden. For instance, radishes and peas are quick to grow and produce delicious fresh food. Sunflowers, Nigella, and pansies make for easy and low-maintenance flowers. Avoid more complex flowering plants, such as roses and lilies, until you've gained knowledge. Make sure that the plants you choose are compatible with your climate zone. This can be seen on the plant's label or by looking through your gardening guide.Mulching is crucial!Most gardeners picture wheelbarrows, shovels and dust-covered arms when they think of mulch. A good layer of mulch, placed correctly, can be beneficial to your flowers or fruit trees.A good mulch deters the weeds and helps keep the soil damp. Organic matter is added to the soil, which enhances its health over time. gardening tips for beginners can help bind sandy soils and break up clay soils. It's a wonderful habitat for beneficial insects and it makes the landscape attractive.A layer of mulch positioned well can also help to regulate soil temperatures, making them cooler during hot summer nights and warmer on cold spring and fall evenings. This is beneficial for plants as it lets them soak up water more easily.It's important not to apply mulch that is too thick, particularly around young seedlings as well as plants that grow and trail, such as strawberry, dandelion and thyme (keep in mind that you must cut the roots of dandelion before applying the mulch). For smaller plants, perennials and shrubs, the ideal thickness is between two and three inches. For trees and shrubs it's between three and four inches. The most common organic materials are hay, straw wood chips, wood chips or shredded bark, grass clippings, shredded leaves and compost.Don't Forget About FertilizingGardening isn't like a walk in the park, and that goes for all levels of gardeners. Fertilizing is an important job that will allow you to take care of the needs of your plants. It may seem like a daunting task for beginner gardeners, but it's quite simple and necessary!Fertilizing doesn't just mean supplying your plants nutrients. It's about timing. You must ensure that you fertilize during the growth season, which means spring through autumn.Use organic or environmentally grown fertilizers. You can find a variety of options at local gardening stores as well as online retailers.Don't forget that there are vegetables that are much easier for beginner gardeners to grow than others. Peas and radishes are very easy to grow, and don't require much in terms of support (just bamboo canes). If you're looking for something a bit more involved, consider strawberries, blueberries, or tomatoes. Each of them requires some support but aren't overly difficult for a novice. Be aware that they'll require regular watering, weeding and a lot of work.Don't Forget About Pest ControlA healthy garden attracts beneficial bugs that eat plants and protect them from pests. This symbiotic partnership is far more effective than spraying chemicals, which harm both good bugs and the bad ones.Gardeners who are new are often so excited about their plants, they plant them without taking into account their individual needs. This can lead to overcrowding, incompatibility, and the eventual failure. Watch the sun in the months of spring, summer and fall to determine how much sunlight your plants are getting. If you notice that a plant that isn't flourishing, move it to another area that receives more sunlight.Regular weeding can also be helpful. Weeds take nutrients, water and light from the plants that you want to grow, so make sure you weed regularly. If you are using fertilizer, be careful -excessive use can harm the soil's microorganisms and destroy beneficial insects that are found in the ground. The best fertilizer to use is organic slow release, not extremely concentrated. Avoid rototilling your garden also, as it can be detrimental to the earth's important microorganisms. Instead of rotating your garden, opt for "no-dig" gardening techniques which protect earthworms as well as beneficial organisms that enrich the soil.Don't forget to think about animalsWhile learning about gardening can be overwhelming, it's also very enjoyable. Once you've got a small patch of land it's a joy to walk through your garden each day and discover what's growing: tiny tomatoes appearing in a few places and pollinators swarming through the squash blossoms, hummingbirds flitting through the bean plants. It's great to watch something edible grow from your fingers.Once you know the basics, gardening is easy for newbies. Find a sunny area, amend the soil using high-quality organic materials, plant seedlings or seeds and water frequently. Many herbs and vegetables can be grown from seed. Even the most difficult plants, such as blueberries, can be grown in pots following the directions on the label.Adding a wildlife habitat--like an pond or log pile--is also a great idea. And if you have problems with destructive animals make sure you don't increase their appetites by keeping food and trash away from reach (raccoons can be particularly adept at stealing garbage from garbage cans) and trimming away any dead flowers or fruits when you can. It is a good idea to prune herbaceous plant like lavender or thyme once they have finished blooming, which usually occurs in the latter part of summer or early autumn. Also, choose native plants that native animals recognize as food sources.