If you are a beginner about to get started on your first garden, you are in for tons of new knowledge and experiences. Growing plants is as much a science as it is an art form, which is why it’s important to keep an open mind and always be hungry for new information. It doesn’t matter if you are a brand new gardener without any knowledge of horticulture or you have been helping your parents in the garden since a young age, everyone has a lot to learn during the growth stages of their first garden.

Some of these lessons were learned the hard way, which is why we’ve put together an article detailing some of the most surprising things to know about your first garden. Hopefully, these things will help you get off to a great start with your garden and avoid any headaches. As a reminder, if you are seeking the best gardening and landscaping product on the market, reach out to Cal Blend Soils. We can provide you with some additional tips for getting started with gardening as well as help you find the landscaping products that will make your life a lot easier.

1. Healthy Plants Start at a Nursery

When you are first starting a garden, you will need to acquire your plants from somewhere. This typically involves heading to your local gardening or landscape supply store to purchase plants. When you are looking to purchase plants, you should give each plant a thorough inspection prior to bringing them home. If you notice any warning signs, it’s best to leave that particular plant at the nursery. Your garden will have a better chance of success if you choose plants that are already growing healthy and strong. Choose wisely at the nursery or you could end up causing more work for yourself to save plants that are already on the mend.

2. Leave Leaves on the Ground

You might be under the impression that leaves are a bad thing in landscaping. Sure, they can cover your grass lawn and become a nuisance, if you let them. However, one great gardening tip that you might not be aware of is that you can actually just let your leaves stay on the ground. To take things a step further, you can use your lawn mower to chop up all of the fallen leaves. The reason why it’s a good idea to leave your leaves is that they serve as mulch. Mulch is great because it provides your plants and soil with organic nutrients that they need to grow. It will eventually turn into compost and add even more nutrients to your soil. This is a great idea during the winter time. If you are new to gardening, don’t go into things thinking that leaves are a bad thing.

3. Caring for a Lawn is More than Mowing

Everyone wants a healthy and green lawn to show off. A lawn is one of the first things that people notice when they see your home, so it makes sense that many homeowners and gardeners focus a lot of time and energy on their lawns. However, if you are someone under the impression that all you need to do is mow your lawn, you are sadly mistaken. Creating a healthy lawn involves aeration, fertilizing, seeding, and mowing. These are activities that are typically done in the fall to get your lawn ready for the spring. If you have any questions about caring for your lawn or would like to buy the best landscaping products on the market, reach out to Cal Blend Soils today.

4. Soils Come in Lots of Varieties

You might think that soil is just that brown stuff that you put your plants in. This is somewhat true, but it’s important to understand that there are many different types of soils. Some soil types will be better for gardening while others will need help from products like topsoil. You need to test out the soil you plan on gardening in before you plant anything to make sure it is going to be good for plant life. Caring for your soil is absolutely essential in the gardening world. If you want to purchase the best soil products that can help you get your garden going the right way, head over to Cal Blend Soils for a great selection of soil and landscaping products.

5. Plant Flower in Groups for the Best Chance at Success

If you are new to gardening, the idea of a diverse garden with lots of different types of flowers might seem attractive. However, you have to choose wisely when planting flowers. It’s best to plant a few bulbs of the same flower in clumps instead of spreading them far apart. Flowers flourish when they are planted in groups, especially if you are planting bulbs. Keep this in mind when you are trying to come up with a plan for planting your garden.

6. A Gardener is Only as Good as There Gardening Products

The last surprising thing to learn about your first garden is that a gardener is only as good as their gardening products. Even if you are an expert gardener with years of experience, if you are using cheap or poor quality gardening products, your garden will suffer as a result. You want to find a great landscaping and gardening product provider like Cal Blend Soils to help you get started. They will have everything you need to get your garden started and help you create an area that flourishes with plant life.

We hope this article helps beginner gardeners learn some valuable lessons to apply to their first garden. Remember that gardening requires patience, dedication, and a willingness to learn. If you are looking for quick and easy results, perhaps gardening isn’t right for you. Reach out to Cal Blend Soils if you have any landscaping questions or would like to purchase the best landscaping and gardening products on the market.