Gardening: Starting a Garden

This article is for those who are new to gardening. It gives ideas for designing a garden from scratch and starting the process.

Starting a garden should be an adventure so long as you are well prepared beforehand. If you use the following tips you should be well on your way to starting a garden that you can enjoy all year round.

• The first thing you need to do is have some idea of the size of your garden. Use a pull out metal tape to measure from wall to wall; this may not be exact but it gives you parameters within which you can work.

• Once you have decided on the size of your garden the next thing you need to do is decide how you want it set out. Do you want a traditional lawn with flowered borders and maybe a path, or do you want a round lawn, a patio, or a decking area. It's up to you. This is where you can have fun and let your imagination take over. Don't worry about the how at this stage, just brainstorm ideas.
• On a sheet of paper draw up three columns, one labeled ideas, one pros and the other cons. List all your ideas and then list the benefits for and against. For example, you might want a round garden and a large patio. Pros = a bit out of the ordinary; if done right can look really attractive. Cons = your garden would need to be fairly large; getting the proportions right may be difficult; could prove expensive. Well, you get the picture.
• Now comes the boring bit. What work needs to be done to prepare the ground for your new garden. If it's a wilderness you might need some help in clearing the growth. Once it's cleared you're ready to begin.
• If you want a lawn then lay some turf. It's cheap and easy to do. Then decide on a color scheme for your plants. Are you going to have already growing plants or bulbs and seeds?

These are just some of the things you can do. I am sure you can think of others. Why not begin an ideas-file today and soon you will be well on your way to starting that garden.