3 Guaranteed Gardening Tips for Beginners

Are you ready to get into gardening? Right now’s the perfect time. For much of the northern hemisphere, winter is finally melting away. Early spring is every green thumb’s favorite time of year, and as a beginning gardener, it will quickly become yours, too. But first, you need to know where to start! These three gardening tips for beginners will point you in the right direction. The beauty of gardening is that it’s a learn-as-you-go process. With just a little knowledge and the right equipment, you can be well on your way toward a lush garden. This guide will show you what to buy, and where to buy it. Overall, we recommend Target and eBay, where you can use our OverStock coupon 20% and Kohls coupon codes  to save on all their high-quality gardening tools.

Get the Right Tools for You and Your Garden

This first tip seems simple enough. As with anything, you can’t be successful without the right set of tools. Gardening is no different. There are a few hand tools you absolutely need to make growing your garden successful and enjoyable. As you become more advanced, your tool set may become more specialized, but for beginners, you can’t go wrong with this Picnic Time 5-Piece Garden Tool Set with Tote & Folding Seat ($59.95 at Target).

This set features the five essential gardening tools: a trowel, spade, weeder, hand rake, and fork. All five of these tools are used to move soil, make room for seeds or seedlings, get rid of weeds, or otherwise manipulate the plants, soil, and seeds in your garden. Trust us, it’s so much better than just using your hands. As an added bonus, this set comes with a tote bag to store your gloves and hat, as well as a stool to ease your knees and back after hours stooping over soil.

Once you have your very first tool set, you need one more indispensable item: a good-quality, gardening-level watering can. Not all watering cans are created equal. A rinky-dink model won’t hold up through sunny days and heavy use. Opt instead for a Haws 1.6-Gallon Long-Reach Watering Can($37 at Target), meant for serious gardening. The hard plastic will hold up, and the long neck is perfect for reaching out-of-the-way plants. The funky design keeps it stable, too, so you don’t have to worry about sloshing. You’ll also need a Melnor Hose Wand ($9.99 at Target) for watering large swaths of land. Melnor is known for making outdoor items that hold up to wear and tear.

In recent years, Target has become a reliable store for home improvement. Nearly everything they offer is professional-grade. Though they already offer low prices, use our Target promo codes to save even more.

Stay Organized

One of the best gardening tips for beginners that you can commit to memory is to stay organized! Most beginning gardeners fail because they lose track of what’s planted where, and when they planted it. Know what you have, where it is, and when you planted it, and you’re golden.

The best way to keep track of your plants is to label them with seed tags ($6.49 for a pack of 50 on eBay). Whenever you plant a seedling or seed, put a label in the soil that also lists when you planted it, as well as its shade and water preferences. This will also help you group like-minded plants together to add variety and save space. If you decide to start your own seedlings, always be sure to plant them in seed starting trays ($14 for a 6-pack of 120 cells on eBay). These trays have perfectly sized partitions to plant the perfect number of seeds and give each of them the right amount of soil and water. Trays also make it easy to transfer seedlings to your garden. You don’t have to worry about cutting a root or breaking up root clusters. Just unpack, and plant!

For long-term gardening, you need to keep track of the seasons. Jot down when your garden should be planted, harvested, or dug up in this MyGarden 5-Year Garden Journal ($16.99 on eBay). Special pages and calendars allow you to always know what’s ahead.

When it comes to specialty garden equipment, eBay can’t be beat. Wholesale, large-scale, and other objects are always available at a bargain — bargains that are even greater when you tack our Kohls coupon codes onto the auction price.

Invest in Planters

When most people think of gardening, they think of wide open spaces. But planters are an indispensable part of gardening. Some plants simply thrive better in a planter. Planters also add visual interest through height and variety, which is the key to a beautiful garden. So, two other good gardening tips for beginners: move your planter to its final location before filling it with soil, and use mulch or other space savers to save on soil.

Also, invest in a high-quality planter that will last through multiple seasons. This Potting Urn from Threshold ($39.99 at Target) is made of clay, making it weather resistant and a great insulator. In other words, it’ll keep plants nice and warm. Don’t be afraid to plant multiple flowers and grasses in one pot. In fact, it looks best when you combine a little greenery and pops of color.

Hanging baskets are also a great idea, especially for vines and other cascading plants like fuchsia or verbena. This CobraCo Hanging Basket ($15.99 at Target) has a natural coconut fiber lining that nourishes roots and holds onto moisture, making it the ideal planter. If remembering to reach up to water is too much, another similar option is a plant stand, like this galvanized Threshold Two-Tiered Plant Stand ($29.99 at Target) that sits on the ground, but still adds a little height and drama. Organize pots on the stand, or fill it with soil to make a mini garden.

The number one rule with planters is to invest in something good. Spend the extra money for tough, natural materials that will contribute to your plants’ growth and tough it out through heat, water, and winter. If you’re worried about the cost, always keep in mind our Target promo codes.

If these gardening tips for beginners have taught you anything, it should be that getting the right stuff is half the battle. The right tools, equipment, and accessories make gardening much more enjoyable. Gardening brings the unique joy of seeing something grow from your own care. And with these tips, you’re sure to see some blooms this summer. So head on over to Target and eBay and buy what you need with our Kohls coupon codes and eBay coupons.