Gardening is something most people want to do but can’t find the time to do when they are working full-time and raising a family. Once you have retired or become empty nesters, you might find that you have free time that you would like to devote to building a garden.
But if you have never gardened before, you may be wondering how you can get started. We’ve got all the details, and more, in this article, so read on to learn all about gardening!
How to Get Started With Gardening
1. Read Gardening Blogs
If you have never gardened before, a good place to start would be with a gardening blog. While a simple Google search will show you a bunch of blogs about gardening, we recommend finding someone located in your state to follow.
Why? Well, the United States is massive, and what you may be able to grow in Arizona may not grow the same way in New York. Plus, the time frame you have to grow certain vegetables will be wildly different depending on your location.
So, for best results, you will want to Google “gardening blogs in ________” and place your state in the blank. If you live in a large state, like California or Nevada, you’ll also want to include a region, like north or south, to ensure you get information specific to your climate.
Here are some popular Garden Blogs that can help you get excited about gardening:
2. Watch YouTube Videos
While YouTube came to fame for cat videos, there are actually tons of educational videos on the platform that are available for free. This is one of the best ways to learn different gardening hacks without having to pay for a class.
Just make sure, similar to the blogs, that you find videos about gardening for your region. Additionally, if you are making a flower garden (instead of a vegetable garden), you’ll want to look at videos specific to that.
Gardening videos can also explain how to use certain garden tools that may be new to you or the market. Be careful, however, as some YouTube videos are ads for the garden tools they are demonstrating. Before you buy a garden tool, ensure you take a look at the reviews and see if the tools are mentioned on other platforms to ensure they perform the task they are advertised to do.
Here are some videos to get you started:
3. Check Your Community Center
If you live in a retirement community or a 55+ community, there is likely a gardening club that meets during the gardening months. Even if you don’t have a local community center, check local gardening stores and community gardens, as they usually have classes or seminars they run on gardening and garden supplies on a regular basis.
While these aren’t always as free as YouTube, they are typically low cost, especially when you consider that you get gardening information tailored exactly to your city. Plus, you’ll probably meet some new gardening friends along the way!
4. Check Your Local University
If you can’t find a local community class, then check in with a nearby university. While this option will probably cost the most on the list, taking a class or a seminar here can really further your gardening knowledge.
Even if there isn’t a university in your area, many offer online classes that you can take from the comfort of your home. There is usually no age restriction, though it will cost a couple hundred dollars to enroll in a class. But if it’s wintertime anyway, it might be a fun way to become a pro at gardening before the season begins!
Look for online gardening courses in these locations:
5. Go to Your Library
Libraries often have books about gardening, and most have an entire section dedicated to the topic. Libraries are a free resource, and books can often be more comfortable for aging eyes.
Be aware, however, that the internet updates much faster than your local library, and you likely won’t learn much about recently new types of gardening supplies. If you want truly up-to-date information, then you will need to stick with gardening blogs or YouTube Videos.
6. Listen to Gardening Podcasts
For those who still live a busy life involving work, a gardening podcast can be a great way to learn about gardening while on the go! Podcasts can be downloaded to your phone and played in your car as you commute, or you can listen to it in headphones as you do your Saturday morning cleaning!
Some of the garden blogs we mentioned above have associated podcasts, namely A Way to Garden. Just remember that not all information provided in a podcast is applicable in your area, and you’ll want to cross-check with local gardening blogs before buying certain plants!
7. Visit Botanic Gardens
Oftentimes, botanical gardens will have special tours or classes that teach about the process of building a botanic garden. While you may not have the space in your backyard for an entire botanic garden, it can be a great way to become familiar with the process of gardening!
Plus, as you walk through some beautiful public and botanic gardens, you might get some ideas of what you want to see in your garden at home.
If you think you want to visit some botanic gardens, check out our article The Best Botanic Gardens in the United States and Botanic Garden Etiquette to plan your trip!
We hope that this article has gotten you excited about the upcoming garden season. If you know of good gardening blogs, tips, or tricks, we are always happy to hear about them! Drop us a comment or send us a message!
