Creating a Garden from Scratch: A step-by-step guide for beginners

Do you dream of having your own green place where you can relax among the flowers and grow delicious vegetables? Creating a garden from scratch may seem like a daunting task, but with proper planning and a few simple steps, anyone can create a dream oasis.

Step 1: Garden Planning

Creating a garden is an exciting activity that can bring a lot of satisfaction. However, enjoy a beautiful and functional garden for many years to come, precise planning is key. This step is similar to the foundation of a building-it provides a stable foundation for further actions and guarantees a harmonious combination of all elements of the garden.

Choosing the perfect location

First step finding a suitable location in your garden. There are several key factors to consider:

• Sun exposure: Determine which parts of the garden are sunlit and which are shaded. Different plants have different light requirements, so it's important to choose the right location for each one.
• Type of soil: Study the type of soil in your garden. This will help you choose the right plants and improve the soil structure if necessary.
• Water access: Make sure that your chosen location has access to water so that you can water your plants regularly.

Defining the garden style

Consider, what kind of garden style do you want. It should be a cozy rustic corner, a modern geometric space, a romantic English garden, a quiet Japanese oasis or something completely different? Choosing a style will help you choose plants, decorative elements, and garden arrangements.

Look for inspiration in garden magazines, websites, and botanical gardens. Remember that the garden should reflect your taste and personality.

Creating a detailed plan

Draw garden plan on paper, taking into account:

• Ways: Plan paths that allow you easy access to all parts of the garden.
• Flower discounts: Mark the places for flower beds, taking into account the style of the garden and the color scheme of flowers.
• Places for vegetables: If you want to grow vegetables, select a suitable place for them in the garden.
• Trees and shrubs: Plan the placement of trees and shrubs based on their size and space requirements.

Be sure to keep appropriate distances between plants so that they can grow freely and get access to sunlight.

Selection of suitable plants

Select the plants that are suitable for your garden environment and they match the selected style. Pay attention to:

• Size: Choose plants of the appropriate size so that they do not dominate the garden or crowd each other.
• Color of flowers: Create a harmonious color arrangement by choosing the flowers of those colors that you like and match the style of the garden.
• Flowering period: Choose flowering plants at different times of the year to enjoy the beauty of flowers throughout the season.
• Care requirements: Choose plants with similar watering, fertilizer, and care requirements to make them easier to care for.

Take advantage of garden plant catalogs or consult your garden nursery to choose the plants that suit your needs and preferences.

Defining a budget

Consider, how much money can you spend on creating a garden. This will help you choose the right materials, plants, and decorative elements.

Make a list of expenses, taking into account:

• Cost of purchasing building materials (for example, stone, gravel, bark)
• Plant prices
• Cost of decorative elements (for example, garden figurines, lamps)
• Garden tools
• Possible gardening costs

Remember that you don't need to buy everything at once. You can gradually expand your garden, adding new elements as you are financially able.

Step 2: Plot preparation

Once you've developed a detailed garden plan, it's time to plot preparation. This is a key stage that, as a solid foundation, will ensure the successful growth of plants and the longevity of the garden.

Removing weeds and roots-overcoming unwanted competitors

First step thorough removal of all weeds and roots from the garden area. These unwanted plants not only ruin the appearance, but also compete with your plants for water, nutrients, and sunlight.

There are two ways to get rid of weeds:

• Manual method: Although it takes a long time, it is safe for the environment and allows you to completely remove the roots.
• Chemical method: Using herbicides can speed up the process, but they should be used with caution according to the instructions, so as not to damage other plants and the environment.

Be sure to remove the roots of weeds so that they do not grow back.

Dig up the soil-aeration and structure improvement

Dig the ground to a depth of about 20-30 cm.. This will allow:

• Soil aeration: Provide the plant roots with the oxygen needed for proper growth.
• Improving soil structure: Crushing lumps and increasing their looseness, which facilitates water absorption and root development.
• Easier planting of plants: Loosened soil makes it easier to place plants in pits and place them correctly.

You can use a shovel or cultivator to dig through the soil.

Add compost or manure-enriching the soil with nutrients

Enrich the soil with compost or manureto increase its fertility and improve water retention. These natural fertilizers provide plants with essential nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.

• Compost: You can prepare it yourself from organic residues such as leaves, grass, vegetable and fruit peels.
• Manure: Available in garden stores, it provides a rich source of nutrients.

Thoroughly mix the compost or manure with the soil when digging.

Plot alignment-easier planting and aesthetics

Level out the garden areato make it easier to plant plants and give them an aesthetic appearance.

• Use a rake or shovelto smooth out roughness and remove clumps of earth.
• Create a gentle terrain dropso that the water does not lie in one place.

Be sure to level the area after adding compost or manure.

Additional tips:

• Soil research: Before starting work, check the type of soil in your garden. This will help you choose the right care methods and fertilizers.
• Adding sand or clay: Depending on the type of soil, you can add sand or clay to improve its structure and drainage.
• Mulching: After planting, apply a layer of mulch to keep moisture in the soil and prevent weeds from growing.

Remember that careful preparation of the site is the key to success in creating a garden. Thanks to this, your plants will have optimal conditions for growth and will delight you with a lush flower and a plentiful harvest.

Step 3: Planting the plants

Now it's time to choose the plants for your garden. Be sure to choose plants that are suitable for your garden conditions, such as sunlight, soil type, and humidity. You can plant flowers, vegetables, trees, shrubs, or creepers.

There are many different ways to plant plants. You can buy seedlings from a garden nursery or sow seeds from packages. Follow the instructions on the seed or seedling packaging for best results.

Step 4: Garden Maintenance

After planting the plants, it is important to take regular care of them. This includes:

• Watering system: Water your plants regularly, especially during times of drought. Most plants require about 2.5 cm of water per week.
• Fertilizer: Fertilize the plants every few weeks to provide them with the necessary nutrients.
• Weeding of weeds: Remove weeds regularly so they don't compete with your plants for water and nutrients.
• Cutting: Prune the plants to give them shape and encourage growth.
• Pest and disease control: Check your plants regularly for pests and diseases. If necessary, use appropriate plant protection products.

Step 5: Enjoy your garden!

After completing all these steps, you can start enjoying your beautiful and functional garden. Relax among the flowers, grow delicious vegetables and spend time with your family and friends in the fresh air.

Remember that creating a garden is a process that goes on. Don't be discouraged if everything doesn't work out perfectly right away. 

Resume

The dream of having your own garden full of flowers and vegetables is available to anyone who starts with proper planning and step-by-step actions. This article describes five basic steps to create a dream garden:

1. Garden planningBefore you act, think about the size and shape of the garden, the sunlight, the type of soil, the purpose of the garden and its style.
2. Plot preparation: Removing weeds, digging up the soil, adding compost or manure, and leveling the site are key preparation steps.
3. Planting plants: Choose plants that are suitable for your garden conditions and follow the instructions on the seed or seedling packages.
4. Garden maintenance: Regular watering, fertilizing, weeding, pruning, and pest and disease control are all essential care measures.
5. Enjoying the garden: After completing all the above steps, you can start enjoying the beauty of your garden, relax among the flowers and spend time outdoors.

Creating a garden is a process that requires time and patience, but over time, each garden will become more beautiful and functional.

For those who want to learn more about safe gardening, we recommend this article Safe work in the backyard: a happy green corner.