One of the biggest mistakes a new gardener can make is to be overly ambitious when starting a garden. Set realistic goals for your first year — think one bed or a collection of containers. Give yourself a chance to learn how to keep your plants healthy and productive, then enjoy the harvest. There’s always next year to expand!
Those little plants are going to get bigger, so it’s important to give them enough space. If you crowd them, they’ll end up competing with one another for moisture and nutrients, plus be more susceptible to disease due to lack of air circulation — not to mention that pests hide more easily in tight spaces. Check plant tags to learn how much space they need, sunlight requirements, planting advice, and more. Then, sketch out where you plan to put your plants.
