6 Effective Gardening Tips for New Homeowners

The feeling of signing for a new house is both a daunting and exciting feeling, especially for a first-time buyer. While the first few months mainly consist of settling in and getting adjusted to your new space, the fun often comes later down the line, when you’ve had more time to think about what it is you want to change to make it your own. 

Typically, renovations are associated with a bedroom redesign or a new kitchen, which leaves your garden low down on the priority list. However, we’re here to say that you’re missing out on a big opportunity! 

A garden is so much more than a space to have a coffee in the sunshine, or to let the dogs roam - it is a space where you can relax, connect with nature and spend time with your family and friends. Therefore, putting some thought and effort into your design is essential. 

You want your garden to be an extension of your home and to do this, you’d best put on your gardening gloves. We’ve come up with a list of six useful gardening tips for beginners so you can get involved and make the most of your outdoor space. These gardening tips and tricks will help you build a garden that is personal to you and something you are proud of. 

Let’s check them out!

1. Assess What You Are Working With 

The most important gardening tip for beginners is to try to educate yourself on the unique characteristics of your garden. Do some research about your garden's natural drainage system, exposure to sunlight, climate, and soil type.

If you’re thinking of growing some vegetables, or creating a plant bed, a soil test is a great way to establish the pH and nutrient content. A clear idea of this will allow you to choose suitable plants that thrive where they are placed. 

2. Create a Plan 

Another essential gardening tip for beginners is to make a detailed plan tailored to your garden’s features. Do you want your garden to be an abundant vegetable garden, a kid's play area, a relaxing space, or all of the above? Create a rough plan considering practical factors including pathways, upkeep, and visibility. 

You could also consult with an experienced garden designer at this stage. They can make sure you are using the space you have wisely, offer planting advice, advise on layering techniques and suggest ideas you may not otherwise think of. 

3. Save Time With Gardening Tools

Another gardening tip for beginners is to have a set of gardening tools for maintenance and upkeep. Saving time (and backache!), they are both affordable and so much more efficient!

For a beginner’s gardening tool set, we’d recommend gardening gloves, a spade, a weeding tool, a garden rake, as well as heavy duty secateurs, loppers and a garden hose. If you have these basic tools to hand, you’ll be well equipped to handle any gardening task that comes your way.

4. Choose Your Plants Wisely 

Selecting the right plants is another gardening tip essential for maintaining a healthy garden. Natives are a good place to start but you should also consider climate adaptive species which will thrive in our ever warmer and drier summers. At Heard Landscapes we are pushing the envelope with drought tolerant plant species that require less maintenance and need less watering. 

If you need some planting advice for your garden, book a 30-minute call with our experts here! Consulting a garden designer will allow them to share their expertise and provide you with plants that are most appropriate for your space. 

5. Prepare the Soil for Planting 

Making sure your plants are healthy is mostly dependent on how you prepare the garden soil. This creative gardening tip suggests adding organic materials to the soil, such as compost or aged manure, to improve the quality of the soil.  Good quality soil promotes improved nutrient absorption and moisture retention.

Furthermore, it’s essential to follow the instructions on ideal planting depth and spacing for optimal results. Besides this, make sure you grow sun-loving plants in locations with plenty of light, and make room for shade-loving plants in appropriate areas. 

6. Maintenance 

Garden maintenance is an ongoing task that needs constant attention. One of the most common garden maintenance tasks is pulling out weeds that can out compete the plants you have chosen for your garden. Additionally, you should prune back any dead branches which could threaten the health of your tree or shrub.

Top tip - to protect the roots of your plants and maintain moist soil, don't forget to replace mulch and try to avoid soil compaction by walking or placing heavy objects in your planted areas.

Enhance Your Garden with These Effective Gardening Tips for Beginners

Creating a beautiful garden is easily achievable with these gardening tips. If you need design advice or would like help choosing the most appropriate plants, we are here to help. 

Based in East London, Heard Landscapes has years of expertise in garden design. We would love to work with you to turn your outdoor space into a flourishing, environmentally responsible garden.

Having established partnerships with the best nurseries in the area, we have access to a variety of high-quality plants and will provide you with suitable solutions. 

We have designed a wide range of gardens, from the stunning Stoke Newington Courtyard to a compact and immersive garden in Hackney. These projects showcase our expertise in designing exceptional gardens and outdoor spaces.

Check out our range of garden projects and get in touch to learn more about our services!