Starting a Garden? Here’s How to Start from Scratch

Some homeowners have a garden in their yard. Why? An aesthetically appealing and highly functional garden works wonders in a residential property. Not only does it beautify the outdoor surroundings, but it also serves plenty of purposes.

For one, outdoor gardening can be good for physical health and therapeutic for mental wellness. Also, a garden can provide fresh air, a cold ambiance, and a healthy outdoor environment. Lastly, it can kick your home value and curb appeal up a notch!

Now, you have the right reasons to set up a garden. However, starting one isn’t a walk in the park. There are a few things you must keep in mind. In some cases, you may need the expertise of a professional gardener or landscaper.

But fret not, as we’ve rounded up some gardening tips for you. That said, here’s how to start a garden from scratch:

1. Remove grasses from a portion of your lawn

When setting up a new garden, you have to choose a portion of your lawn. Once decided, you have to sacrifice the turf in this selected area. You have to get rid of the grasses, especially their stubborn roots.

Fret not, as there are practical ways to eliminate these grasses. Below are three grass removal methods:

• Manual removal: Pull out the sods from the lawn with your bare hands or with the use of gardening tools. However, this can be tedious and daunting, albeit a great exercise form.

• Mulching: Make sure to obtain mulch materials from reliable suppliers. They can be organic materials like chopped leaves, wood chips, shredded barks, and compost. You can also purchase artificial mulches such as black plastic and geotextiles as landscape fabrics.

• Solarization: Rely on the sun’s heat for baking the soil. Use a clear plastic tarp to cover the intended area for your garden. As a result, it can kill both the grasses and weeds.

2. Tend the soil

Once the turfs get removed in certain parts of your lawn, you now have bare ground. It’s time to tend the soil to make it ideal for gardening. As you must be aware, healthy soil can be instrumental to your plants’ growth and health. Hence, be sure to factor in the following:

• Soil type: The type pertains to the quality of your soil. Opt for the right soil texture and composition. As much as possible, veer away from a ground with too much clay or a sandy one. If you have this soil type in your yard, consider making changes.

• Soil pH: The soil pH ranges from the most acidic to the most alkaline. It can affect the plants’ capability to absorb nutrients. Hence, consider having a soil test to see if your ground is ideal for gardening.

3. Choose the best trees and shrubs

A garden won’t be a garden without a variety of fauna species. There are many different trees and shrubs you can plant and grow in your garden. However, you have to be highly critical and selective. Take note of the following:

• Trees: Have a few surrounding trees to provide shades in your lawn. Make sure they have woody trunks or stems. Also, opt for fruit-bearing trees to have a good harvest in time.

• Plants: Consider growing herbaceous annuals that have one growing season and need to get replanted. If not, opt for herbaceous perennials and biennials. Perennials like peony, daylily, and false indigo are long-lived. On the other hand, biennials like foxglove, hollyhock, and sweet William are short-lived.

• Shrubs with blooms: A garden won’t be complete without those lovely flowers. Therefore, consider planting and growing shrubs with flowers such as marigolds, petunias, zinnias, impatiens, and cornflowers.

• Herbs and vegetables: If you like to be more practical, it’s best to plant herbs and vegetables in your garden. In time, they can provide food on your table.

4. Incorporate a theme garden

Before taking the plunge into your gardening, it’s best to decide on a theme garden. Don’t just plant and grow trees, shrubs, and flowers randomly. Make sure to have a theme in mind for your outdoor space. Here are a few theme garden recommendations.

• Zen garden: Focus on having a meditative space for peace and relaxation.

• Moon garden: As the name suggests, opt for nocturnal shrubs and blooms, allowing you to enjoy the yard at night.

• Beach theme: Incorporate some water features in your garden to create a beach setup.

• Rock garden: Install a variety of rocks to spruce up your garden. Consider constructing stepping stones.

• Woodland garden: Incorporate large trees and plant plenty of shrubs and blooms underneath.

5. Start planting

At this point, you must already have decided on a theme garden. You can go ahead and start planting and growing trees, shrubs, and vegetation. If you have a green thumb, take the DIY approach. If not, however, consider hiring professional gardeners or landscapers who can help you out.

6. Install hardscape features

To complete your garden and take it to the next level, you can consider incorporating some hardscape features. Here are a few suggestions:

• Deck or patio: While a deck is an open platform without a roof, a patio is a paved area extending from a house.

• Walkway: This pathway allows you to walk around your garden. Consider its aesthetics and functionality.

• Retaining walls: Construct retaining walls to ensure soil stability and support growing plants. 

• Water features: Apart from constructing a water fountain, think of other water features that can take your garden to the next level.

At this point, you now know how to start your garden from scratch. Consider the gardening tips above, from removing grasses to incorporating a theme garden to installing hardscape features. If you aren’t sure how to proceed, consider hiring a professional landscaper for your outdoor garden. By doing so, you’ll have a visually attractive and highly functional garden that your family deserves.