When you prepare to plant a garden, there are many steps you should follow in order to ensure success. The first step is to decide what type of garden it will be. If the garden will be used for growing fruits and vegetables, the necessary conditions may be a bit different than if the garden is for flowers.
If the garden will be for growing fruits and vegetables, the next step is to choose a sunny location. If the garden will be for flowers, the amount of sun the area needs to receive will be determined by the types of flowers to be grown. Some flowers thrive on sun all day long, while others need sun for part of the day, and still others like to be placed in full shade.
Since the types of flowers to be planted in the garden have such a major impact when you prepare to plant a garden, it is a good idea to look at available flowers ahead of time. This way, you can determine which flowers you prefer and plan the garden location accordingly. On the other hand, you may already have a specific spot in mind. If this is the case, you must be careful when selecting flowers in order to ensure they are appropriate for the amount of light the area receives.
The next step is to get the soil ready. The easiest way to do this is to use a tiller. A tiller is a hand held, motorized tool that tears the ground apart. This is beneficial when you prepare to plant a garden, because it loosens the dirt, making it possible for the roots of the plants to grow and to create a strong hold in the dirt.
Tilling the area is also important because it helps uproot any weeds or grass in the area. You should then use a garden rake to remove all of the plants that have been uprooted. Removing the plants is an important step because many weeds are extremely hardy, which means they are capable of re-rooting themselves if not removed.
At this point, the ground is ready to be planted. Depending on the type of plants to be placed in the garden, there may be one final step necessary when you prepare to plant a garden. This step involves testing the soil to determine the amounts of certain chemicals already present. Some plants prefer acidic soil, while others do not. If the soil is inadequate, supplies can be purchased from a garden store to alter the balance of the soil.