I think that one of the best things a beginning gardener can do is ask questions. Finding resources to answer those questions can be daunting and overwhelming. Compiled below are resources that I deem essential and ones that are for bonus points of interest
- Find out your climate zone or hardiness zone. Every seed packet or plant tag should mention how to care for plants in your area. It helps to know what your area is.
- Buy a copy of the Sunset Western Garden Book. I am a huge advocate of the public library, but I find this reference book extremely valuable! It is almost like the gardening bible. Purchase the Sunset Western Garden Book on Amazon.
- Gather a basic set of gardening equipment. Ask friends who garden if they have extra items that they wouldn’t mind giving to you as gardeners tend to accumulate these types of thing.
- A pair of gardening gloves. I like these three for different purposes, but one all purpose set of gloves will be fine to start with like these ones.
- Pruning Shears – I don’t have these, but gave them to my mother-in-law as a gift and now I want a pair!
- Gardening Trowel – make sure it has a scoop like this one and not a flat one.
- Weeder (if you garden outdoors) – This thing is a weeding game changer.
- Gardening shoes (if you garden outdoors) – It is nice to have closed toed shoes that you can get dirty and then hose off. This is by no means essential. After trying three different kinds of shoes, my preferred gardening shoe is Crocs.
- Go visit gardens in your area. This can be as simple as walking in your neighborhood or finding botanical gardens in your area. It helps to see what grows well in your area and often you can meet the gardeners and ask questions about plants.
- Extend grace to yourself! You will kill plants and hopefully you will learn something from it.
