"Great information on what to plant and where. Edging is a great gardening tool and Jason can show you how to make it work at its best for your garden. Select a garden area. Get inspired by these easy, fast and cheap DIY ideas to make your garden look great. Evaluate the site for soil and light conditions, build infrastructures such as paths or fences, amend the soil, and design your garden before purchasing plants. An edge can make the difference between a good garden and a great garden … You may have visions of drifts of color, wildflower prairies, or bushels of tomatoes, but get your feet wet first with some gardening basics. That's enough to provide a satisfying harvest of herbs, greens or easy vegetables while you get a feel for the amount of time and effort it takes to water and weed. Here are ten tips to help you keep your garden green while also making it an easier and more enjoyable effort. If you have the room and, even more importantly, the time and energy needed to grow a huge garden well, go for it. ? Most of us have what garden writers call a 'small garden', but we call it a perfectly sized garden. However, there are lots of plants that can still grow in partial sunlight or even partial shade. Bamboo, waterlilies with irises and grasses skirt the simple wood deck. Keep your first garden manageable so you don't get overwhelmed. There is clay and lots of it so I want a raised bed. Don’t wait till spring for gardening, begin with 6 things in February so that you’ll have a good start when the weather gets warm again. The good news is, you don’t have to slave over your lawn to keep it healthy. Lauren Kurtz, a professional horticulturist, recommends: "A garden should be planned about 6-12 months before planting plants. Vegetables need strong, full sunlight, so choose the sunniest part of your yard to create your vegetable garden. The best advice that I can give is to check what you already have in the garden, and only to buy new plants that are safe (most are, and they are labelled). With a bit of know-how, some work, and some patience, you can have healthy soil, no matter what kind of soil you are starting with. Once you have chosen the location for growing an herb garden, you will need to prepare the soil. All of these ideas are very practical and do not require so many efforts or money. Retreat is the first impression one gets when entering this water garden. The best site for a vegetable garden should incorporate the following: At least six hours of sunlight daily, good drainage and air circulation, and a level location with loose, rich soil. If the soil is sandy or clay heavy, add plenty of compost. This month, we get seed starting mixture under our fingernails. I am planning to put my vegetable garden in our front yard and want to know how deep to dig up the grass. Avoid areas that are shaded by your house or a tree during part of the day. Planting near the kitchen or near the house will make it easier to harvest herbs from the herb garden. 2 You have a great garden that's producing beautiful fruits, vegetables, and herbs, but how do you preserve them? There should also be a nearby source of water, and ideally, convenient access to tool storage and equipment. Photo: home-designing.com Keeping your garden, even a small one, green and healthy year round can be hard work for the best of us.