The Basics, Bitch

When it comes to gardening there are some real basic rules and terms you may want to familiarize yourself with.

Terms
Annual: Plants that typically are only around for one year or one growing season.
Perennial: Plant that will grow year after year (unless you suck at gardening)

Rules
1. Try and observe your garden during the day to see what areas get sun and which areas are shaded. This way you can choose the appropriate plants for the appropriate areas. No need to set up a video camera to tape the yard (unless you want to of course...freak...)just take a look at it on the weekends especially around noon to 3 when the sun is at it's highest (and hottest) point during the day.

2. If you are planting anything like a tree you may want to see if you can find out where the major pipes are located in the yard. Because there is nothing like digging a hole to plant a tree, hitting a water line, and watching a geyser erupt from said hole....not that I know anyone who that happened to.

3. Read the information cards when buying the plant of your dreams. It will tell you everything you need know. I get the majority of my plants from either Home Depot or Lowes and they do have some gardening specialists on staff that you can ask. However they are not always there and are not necessarily the most helpful. If you really are stuck for information go to a local nursery and find their specialists...they are a wealth of information and love to talk plants and tips!

4. Find out what hardiness zone you live in to make sure what you have bought/planted will live. I have attached a handy little link in the upper right corner where you can type in your zip code and it will tell you your zone. However most of the local garden centers/home stores will typically only supply plants that can live in your zone.

5. Get some basic tools. I started out with a large spade (pointed end), garden rake, hand spade, pruning shears and a bulb digger. I later added a forked weeding tool which is awesome for getting to the roots of weeds and tearing those little suckers out and gardening gloves so I wouldn't ruin my manicure!

6. Water! The best times to water is either in the early morning or late afternoon.

7. If at first you don't succeed....there are always more plants out there!

Image courtesy of ehow.com