If you want to try gardening for a hobby, you will have to know how to start a garden. Not only is gardening a creative outlet it will also save you some money. Instead of purchasing vegetables, fruits, flowers or plants you will now be able to harvest them right from your garden.

Gardening goes back all the way to ancient times. There were inscriptions found in ancient pyramids and tombs that referenced gardening. Nowadays gardening is still very popular. Many people practice gardening as a way to relax. http://www.gardendigest.com/timegl.htm#Start

There are many steps to starting a garden. Some of the steps include finding the correct location, making sure the soil is good, knowing which gardening tools to use and what to plant in your garden. Because it can all get quite overwhelming, it’s best to start with a blueprint. This is just an outline of what your garden will look like. Are you planting vegetables, fruit, or flowers? Make sure to write on your blueprint what goes where. If you are brand new to gardening, it's a good idea to make a small garden. If you are ready for a new challenge and are quite familiar with gardening, a bigger garden would be ideal for you. A good plan is half the work. http://www.gardenguides.com/599-starting-first-vegetable-garden.html

WHAT YOU WILL NEED: To successfully start a garden there are a few items you will need including:

1. Water
2. Soil
3. Gardening tools
4. Seeds, plants, flowers etc.
5. Compost
6. Fertilizer
7. Blue Print (notepad & pencil)
8. Pesticide

BLUEPRINT: Make sure to always have your blueprint handy. This way you can always take a step back and look at it. Let it be your guide. Make sure your blueprint has a list of flowers, produce, and plants that you want to plant and where you want to plant them. Also, include the surroundings of the garden on the blueprint. The house, trees, walkways, property boundaries and utilities should all be visible on the plan. http://ezinearticles.com/?Garden-Designs-For-The-Different-Types-Of-Gardens&id=1099882

LOCATION: An important step in starting a garden is where you are going to place it. You want to make sure to pick a spot that is fully exposed to the sun during the day. Also, consider if the size of the garden you have planned fits in the location of your choice. If you plan to do a lot of planting, you will need a larger garden. http://www.gardenguides.com/599-starting-first-vegetable-garden.html http://startagarden.com/

SOIL: The quality of your soil can determine how well your garden will grow. If your soil is very clay-like, consider incorporation of some topsoil or compost. To make sure that your soil has all the nutrients your plants will need, you can do a pH test on the soil. If you don't know how to test soil pH, visit your local garden center or nursery. They have soil pH test kits that come with full instructions. http://www.gardenguides.com/599-starting-first-vegetable-garden.html

WHAT TO GROW: You've determined the best location for your garden and made sure the soil is of excellent quality. The next step is to turn to your blueprint and look at the different plants you want to grow.

You don't have to plant them all at once. As time goes on you can gradually add more plants, vegetables, flowers or fruits to your garden. Another reason why you want to do it this way is because not all plants grow during the same season and some need a longer/shorter time to grow.

You want to grow compatible plants. For instance tomatoes, squash, beans and watermelon will not thrive if there is frost, plant them when all signs of frost are gone. You might start some plants off as seeds and grow them indoors before transplanting them outside. Also, consider the future size of the plant and the space it will need. Don't plant your plants too close together. If you have any doubts regarding what to plant, visit your trusted garden center. They will be able to tell you which plants do well in the area you are in. Most likely, they will not sell any plants that don't do well. If you are new at gardening, you might want to try some of the easy to grow crops like onions, peas, beets, rutabaga and zucchini squash. http://www.gardenguides.com/599-starting-first-vegetable-garden.html

Once you have purchased the necessary seeds or plants, you can start planting according to your blueprint. (Remember if you are starting from seeds, you might want to purchase them a few weeks beforehand so they can germinate indoors.) Each seed/plant is different. Make sure to read the instructions on the seed/plant packaging so you know how to plant it and care for it. Some seeds need to be chilled or soaked before planting. The only way to find out if they need this is to read the packaging. How deep should you plant it? Does it need frequent watering? How big does the plant get? Do you know when to use fertilizer on the plants?

CARE of your Garden:

Water is essential for growth. Make sure to keep the soil moist don’t soak it though. Observe your plants and soil. If they seem dry, it's time to water. During warmer periods, you might want to water more frequently.

Keep your garden weed free. Weeds can get out of hand. It starts with one and before you know it, a whole weed family is growing in your garden. You can weed by just pulling out the unwelcome growths. If you notice signs of an insect infestation, you can use a pesticide from you local garden center to help. Fertilizer should only be used if your soil is quite poor of quality and if the plant looks like it could use some help.