Choose a Site

If you have your heart set on growing a specific plant, check to see what growing environment it requires. Vegetables will need at least 6 hours of sun contact a day. The same goes for most flowering plants, however there are still many to choose from for a moderately shaded site. If you want to start a garden where there is mostly shade, your choices are going to be more limited, but not prohibitive.
The folks in this picture have a partially shaded front entrance. They could easily add a small garden along the walkway where they could enjoy it, making their entrance more of a focal point.
Also take into consideration when the sun hits your site. Afternoon sun will be hotter and more drying than morning sun. Many plants turn their faces toward the sun, so if your view of the garden is from a west window, your flowers may face away from you in the afternoon. Evaluate other elements of exposure such as high, drying winds or heavy foot traffic.
Once you know where you’d like to try your first garden, use a hose or extension cord to try laying it out on the ground.

How’s the Soil?

Once you know where you want to plant, it’s time to check the soil. Soil testing is the least glamorous part of gardening, but the most important. At the very least check your soil’s pH. This will tell you how acid or alkaline your soil is. Plants cannot take up nutrients unless the soil’s pH is within an acceptable range. Most plants like a somewhat neutral pH, 6.2 – 6.8, but some are more particular. If you are growing plants from the nursery, check the plant tag for specifics. If no pH preference is listed, a neutral range is fine.

You may also want to check the texture of your soil or even the nutrients and minerals in it. You can have that done at your local Cooperative Extension office and some nurseries. Soil texture refers to whether it is sandy, heavy clay, rocky or the ideal, a sandy loam. Whatever the texture, it can be improved with the addition of organic matter such as compost.

Label Your Plants and Keep Garden Records

Keep a record of what you have planted or better yet, keep the labels that came with your plants. This will help answer any questions about what the plant may need if it starts looking poorly and will remind you next year of what you liked and what didn’t work. It also helps to take pictures and label them. You’ll remember color combinations and favorite plants.
If you start a garden journal, you can also record how plants perform, when flowers are in bloom, how large a harvest was and all kinds of information that will help you make a better garden next year.