Gardening tips for beginners

Starting a garden can feel daunting. What plants are the easiest to grow? What type of garden is best for your home? How do you care for the plants? The list goes on! 

With planting, all it takes is one step. And another. And another. Before you know it, you’ll have a full-fledged green space full of blooms and beautiful harvests. 

If you’re keen on a greener home, this beginner’s guide to gardening can help you get started. It has all the tips and inspiration you’ll need, from planting to maintaining your garden tools. 

1. Planning your garden 

Before going to the local landscaping store, you need to consider a few things:

Landscaping and layout
 

First, assess your living situation and identify what kind of garden you want based on your needs.

• How much space do you have? 

• How much budget and time can you devote to your garden?

• Do you have any disabilities you’ll need to work around?

• Will this space be an entertaining area, children’s play area, or veggie patch? 

Understanding the purpose of your garden will help you plan the design. What’s more, gardening requires constant work and upkeep, so you should set up one that easily fits your lifestyle.
 

☞ Helpful read: 

• Gardening tips for the elderly
  
  

☞ Cost guides: 

• Garden design cost guide

• Gardener cost guide

Sun exposure 

‘Sun-mapping’ is a thing – how much sun does your garden actually get and where? Spend a day outside to find out.

1. Assess the sun’s movement throughout the day and identify areas of full sun, partial shade, or full shade. 

2. Use this information to decide where to plant sun-loving or shade-tolerant plants based on their specific light requirements.

Different types of gardening

Gardeners with large country backyards are blessed with their options. But if you’re in a terrace house in suburban Sydney and don’t have more than a 4-metre squared courtyard, you’ll need to be smarter with what you have.  

If you’re unsure about the type of garden you want to create, here are some options you can consider.

☞ Outdoor gardening ideas: 

• Vertical garden

• Front garden

• Small backyard ideas

• Cactus garden

• Native garden

• Tropical garden

• Contemporary garden

• Fairy garden

• Cottage garden

• Terraced garden

• English garden

• Garden hedges

☞ Indoor gardening ideas for small spaces: 

• How to start container gardening

• Succulent garden ideas

• Bedroom plants

• Bathroom plants 

Choosing plants to grow

Research is key for beginner green thumbs. Know whether the plants, grass, flowers, or vegetables you are interested in will do well in your climate, how to care for them, and their maintenance requirements. 

☞ Gardening basics 

• Perennial, annual, and biennial plants: How are they different?

• Tips for vegetable gardening in autumn and winter

Plant options 

As a beginner, you can start with easy-to-grow plants. Indoor plants are perfect if you live in an apartment or don’t have a yard or balcony. Or, if you love to cook with aromatic herbs, a mini herb garden of parsley, basil, and thyme will leave your garden (and kitchen) smelling great! Meanwhile, garden hedges serve as beautiful fences and are budget-friendly and low-maintenance!

Your choice of plants really depends on your available space and purpose.
 

☞ Different types of plants 

• Easy plants to grow indoors and outdoors

• Easiest vegetables to grow in your home garden

• Best vegetables to grow in winter

• Best perennial plants that bloom in Australia

• Gorgeous garden flowers for your garden

• Best garden trees for small gardens

2. Getting started on your garden 

Photo by Greta Hoffman via Pexels

Below are helpful guides for when you’re ready to set up your garden. After choosing plants and your preferred type of garden, the next step is to gather supplies, roll up your sleeves, and start planting.

Drainage and ground preparation

Don’t forget to consider things like drainage and ground preparation. You don’t want half of your backyard flooded and turning into a mud puddle every time you get a sprinkling of rain. You may need to level the ground, dig it out, and even prepare the soil if it’s lacking nutrients. 

If you have a bit of labouring work ahead of you, think about when the right time to do it will be; there’s no point in scheduling a landscaping job in the ‘wet season’ (okay, ‘wet weeks’ in Australia); mud and rain won’t allow for much productivity.

☞ Things to know before planting: 

• Essential gardening tools

• Potting mix vs garden soil

• Perlite vs pumice 

• First and last frost dates (and why they matter)

☞ How-to guides: 

• How to level an uneven lawn

• How to remove hedges

• How to propagate plants

• How to start a herb garden

• How to start a vegetable garden

• How to grow vegetables in your apartment

• How to start a simple hydroponic garden at home

3. Tending to the garden 

Once you’ve established your garden, you’ll need a good maintenance routine to keep it looking amazing.
 

☞ Garden maintenance guides: 

• Garden maintenance checklist

• Frost protection for plants

• Common garden pests and how to prevent them

• Why you should mulch your garden

• Lawn care and maintenance tips 

• Lawn care calendar

☞ How-to guides: 

• How to weed a garden

• How to trim hedges

• How to trim bushes

• How to repot an orchid

☞ Cost guides: 

• Garden maintenance cost

• Garden weeding cost

• Lawn mowing price guide

Making a compost pile 

Compost provides organic materials that can be added to soil to help plants grow. Making your own compost pile is healthy for your garden and the Earth since it reduces food and yard waste in landfills. Plus, you can make a compost pile indoors or outdoors! 

4. Setting up a garden shed for safe storage 

A garden shed keeps your tools and supplies organised, protects them from the elements, and provides a sheltered area for gardening tasks. Also, make sure to regularly clean tools to prevent rust and cross-contamination. What’s more, keep your tools sharp to ensure efficient gardening work.

☞ Garden tool storage and maintenance guides:

• Stylish and functional garden shed ideas

• How to build a DIY garden shed

• Garden shed installation cost guide

• Cleaning and sharpening garden tools

5. More garden design inspiration 

Once you’ve blossomed as a gardener, you can explore ways to make your garden cosier and more beautiful. From garden edging and paths to canopy ideas, we’ve got you covered!

☞ Stylish and functional garden design ideas:  

• Garden canopy ideas

• Garden edging

• Garden paths

• Garden steps

• Garden screening

• How to lay sleepers for garden edging

• How to lay artificial turf

Make money with your gardening skills 

If you show your garden some love, it will certainly return the favour with lush foliage and beautiful blooms. And while this guide can help you set up your garden, why stop there? You can take your new-found gardening skills to the next level – by turning them into a source of income through Airtasker.

☞ Learn more: 

• 25 Ways to make money gardening 

• Profitable gardening skills

• How to become a professional gardener

Ready, set, grow!

Congratulations, you now know basic gardening tips and skills. Feel free to bookmark this page for future reference as you go through your gardening journey. 

If you’re still unsure about how to get started, you can always find a professional gardener to guide you through the process.