25 Gardening Tips Every Gardener Should Know

To help you make the most of the growing seasonwe’ve put together some smart gardening tips for every gardenerwhether you’re a newbie or an experienced hand. Even for veteran gardenersit’s a good idea to take the time to review essential basics.

Safety First

Safety should always come firstespecially when the weather is nice and it's tempting to get straight to gardening. Review these safety tips before you begin:

• If you have petsavoid planting anything that's potentially harmful to them. Check the ASPCA list of toxic and non-toxic plants to ensure your garden is pet-friendly.
• Before diggingcall 811 to mark underground utility lines. Many utilities are buried just a few inches undergroundso be cautious and avoid any unintentional damage by locating themif any exist.
• Clean and sharpen your gardening tools before use. Refresh your memory on using lawnmowers and other electric tools. To prevent injurieswarm up and stretch your body before lifting heavy pots or pushing a wheelbarrow. It's essential to learn proper lifting techniques to minimize back strain. If soreness occursa hot or cold pad can be a remedy.

We've got plenty of ideas and tips to get you startedwhether you want to try a new projectlike growing a moon garden or edible flowersor simply refresh your container gardens.

Our Best Gardening Tips

Explore our list of must-know gardening tips that answer common questions all gardeners face.

Gardening Tips for Growing Conditions

Understanding your garden's environmentweatherand plant selection are key for growth success. Here’s how:

• Find your USDA Hardiness Zone to ensure your perennialstreesand shrubs will survive your area's winter. This guide also helps you pinpoint when to expect the last frost date in spring.
• Learn the length of your growing seasonfrom your last spring frost to the first fall frostso you can plan whether to start some plants indoors or wait.
• Different plants require various light levels. For vegetablesaim for a spot with at least eight hours of direct sunlight each day. Cool-season crops like lettucespinachradishesand cabbage can be planted in partially shaded areas.
  
• Certain plants bloom according to day length. Options like chrysanthemumspoinsettiasand strawberries require long nights to flower. For strawberries that bloom and bear fruit between 35°F and 85°Flook for "day-neutral" varieties.
• Opt for native plant species because they have the most advantageous growing conditions in their natural region and support local pollinators. If planting for pollinatorsavoid double-flowered cultivarsas extra petals can obstruct access to nectar and pollen.

Gardening Tips for Pruning and Trimming

As your garden growsknowing how to prune and trim plants will help maintain blooms and enhance beauty. Here's how:

• Wondering when to prune? Trim spring-flowering shrubs like lilacs right after their blooms fade. These shrubs set buds in autumnso fall or winter pruning will remove next spring’s buds.
• Practice deadheading for perennials and annuals to encourage more blooms. Cutting off old flowers signals annuals to bloom morechanneling energy into strengthening roots and leaves. Skip deadheading for plants like money plantsvalued for decorative fruits or pods.
• After spring-blooming bulbs like daffodils and hyacinths bloomdeadhead to conserve energy for the bulbs rather than seed creation. Let foliage remain until it yellows and can be easily removed. Leaves store nutrients needed for next year’s blooms. Plants need light exposureso don't braid or tie leaves.

Gardening Tips for Soil and Water

Soil type and water requirements vary across plantsso ensure your soil has the appropriate nutrients and you're managing water correctly.

• Only use compostedrotted manure that's aged six months or more. Fresh manure is too nitrogen-rich and can harm plants; it might even harbor pathogens. Avoid manure from pigsdogsand cats for gardens or compost piles due to harmful parasites.
• The quality of the soil is more vital to healthy plant growth than the application of fertilizers. Enhance soil with organic amendments like compost and aged manure for idealcrumbly soil that easily absorbs water and allows root oxygen. When choosing fertilizersopt for organic types that provide necessary nutrients like nitrogenphosphateand potash.
• Refrain from digging or planting in wet soil; it can damage structure. Wait until the soil is crumbly and doesn't form a ball when squeezed (it needn’t be bone-dry) to work with it.
• Know how well your soil drains. Roots require oxygenwhich damp soil lacks due to limited air pockets. Most plants thrive in well-drained soilso enhance it with organic matter as needed.
• In-ground garden plants generally need 1 to 2 inches of water weekly. If rain is scarcewater deeply once a week rather than shallow watering daily. Shallow watering draws roots toward the surface rather than promoting deeper growth.

• Don't send your fall leaves away! Insteadchop them up and use them as compost ingredients. Pulverized leaves can be left to nourish the lawn. After several hard freezeswhen plants have gone completely dormantyou also can use 3 to 6 inches of shredded leaves as mulch over tender perennials to keep them that way over winter. Remove the mulch in spring.

Gardening Tips for Planting and Transplanting

Planting and transplanting plants can significantly influence their growth and success. Keep these tips in mind:

• Perennials typically take three years to reach full maturity after planting. Follow the adage: the first year they “sleep,” the second year they “creep,” and by the third yearthey “leap” in growth.
• Hostas usually don't require division unless you want to rejuvenate themexpand your collectionor prefer singular plantings. The optimal times for dividing are spring—when new shoots emerge but leaves haven’t unfurled—or fallat least four weeks before ground freeze.
• Plant spring-blooming bulbs like tulipsfritillariasornamental alliumsand crocuses in the fall before the first frost. Create a hole two to three times deeper than the bulb's height. Most hardy bulbs need planting only oncewhile hybrids like tulips may require annual replanting unless you choose perennial species tulips.

• Late summer or early autumn is the best time to divide and transplant spring-blooming perennials. The most commonly divided perennials are irisespeonieshostasand daylilies.
• When transplanting container-grown perennialsdig a hole twice as wide as the soil ball of the plant to aid with root establishment. Make sure the plant sits at the same depth in the hole as it did in the container. Use the same soil you dug out of the hole to fill in around your new plant instead of bagged soil.
  

• The best approaches to controlling weeds in the garden are hand-weeding and hoeing. Avoid deep hoeing or cultivatingwhich can bring weed seeds to the soil's surface so they germinate. Weed early and often to prevent weeds from going to seed. Use mulch to smother and prevent annual weeds.

Gardening Tips for Fruits and Vegetables

Enhance the flavor and appearance of your fruits and veggies with these gardening tips:

• For optimal tomato ripeningmaintain temperatures between 68°F and 77°F. Heat above 85°F hinders lycopene and carotene productionwhich gives the fruit its color. Once temperatures drop below 50°Fgreen tomatoes won't ripenbut those showing color can ripen indoors.
• If rhubarb sprouts flower stalksremove them. This guides the plant's energy towards growing foliagenot seeds.
• Bury potato plants deeply and store harvested potatoes in complete darkness. Light exposure turns potato skins green due to solaninea toxin. Trim off green areas and sprouts before consumingas ingesting large amounts can cause illness.