Top gardening tips of all time

Nobody wants to put time and effort into a project only to see it flop and fail miserably. Gardening is certainly no exception! When you spend the money on seeds or plants, you want to see them grow well and flourish. For that to happen it's necessary to remember some key things that will help your garden take off.
Simply put, garden plants need nutrients, sunlight, and water to grow. They also need to be kept pest- and disease-free. In the list below, we've compiled the best of the best gardening tips. From knowing what to grow to how to save money, you'll learn all the tricks to the trade. There are even tips for putting your garden on autopilot (if you are feeling a bit more lazy). Keep reading, and learn all the best gardening tips around:
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1. Know what to grow
Because it's best to start small, choose to grow plants that you know you and your family will use. Also, know what U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zone, you're in so you can pick plants that do well in your area. Reading reviews of different varieties will help provide guidance. Choose varieties other gardeners in your area have had consistent success growing.
Home-grown veggies outperform store bought in both flavor and nutrition. Therefore, it's well worth trying to grow your own. If you love the idea of picking fresh veggies from your own backyard but have no clue where to start, then worry no longer. Be sure to check out our 10 steps to starting a vegetable garden.
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2. Defend your garden against unwanted pests
If you need to keep animals at bay, install a net or cage over the plants that are most likely to get noshed, such as tomatoes, carrots, and lettuce. You can use chicken wire or bird netting to protect individual fruits or whole plants.
There are few things more frustrating for a gardener than to see all of their hard work destroyed by the tiny mouths and claws of pests. If you're at your wit's end trying to save your precious plants and vegetables from the destructive power of mice, deer, rabbits, and insects, we're here to help. Be sure to check out these 10 ways to protect your garden from pests.
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3. Learn to do less (and be a little lazy)
Put watering on autopilot! A drip irrigation system can be simple (such as a soaker hose) or a bit more complex. Either way, the system delivers water directly to the plant, where it seeps slowly into the soil one drop at a time. Not only does this save precious water, but it also saves time.
Like everyone else in today’s world, gardeners are being pulled in several directions at once, so even if they aren’t lazy, they need to streamline their gardening efforts to check off all those other items on their to-do list. Be sure to check out these 10 gardening tips for the lazy gardener.
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4. Avoid beginner gardening mistakes
Don’t let your enthusiasm for spring cause you to plant more than you can handle. Everything you plant comes with a laundry list of maintenance tasks that includes watering, weeding, feeding, pruning and harvesting. Start out small with a few rows or a small bed, and expand from there.
Experienced gardeners have many things in common -- they love plants, get pleasure from watching them grow, enjoy working in the soil, and delight in the harvest and beauty that their efforts yield. These same gardeners have all gained their experiences by learning from their mistakes. Whether you're new to gardening or you're an old hand, you'll benefit from the mistakes they made and are willing to share with you. Be sure to check out 10+ major gardening mistakes made by beginners.
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5. Learn weed maintenance
Crisp your weeds into submission by mixing 1 cup of salt with 1 gallon of vinegar, a bit of dish soap and some citrus oil. Spray the mixture on the weeds.
When you've spent hours cutting, trimming, and planting to ensure your yard looks beautiful and relaxing, the sight of weeds cropping up is enough to make you crazy. If you're having a hard time getting rid of these pesky yard design killers, be sure to check out these 9 most effective ways to kill weeds naturally. ​
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6. Learn to save money in your garden
The first step in dividing perennials is digging up a clump that is overgrown. Dig deeply around the perimeter of the plant, using a shovel to loosen the roots while trying to remove the entire root system. Use the shovel handle as a lever, pushing down to help lift the clump up out of the ground.
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One plant becomes two, and two can become four or more with this great garden magic. Dividing existing perennial plants will keep them healthy and save you money over time. With perennial plants, a one-time investment will grow year after year, providing foliage and color with little work from you. For more tips, be sure to check out the top ways to save money while you garden.
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