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Gardening for Beginners

Young couple (heads not seen) use trowels to dig into a small raised garden bed on Astroturf, surrounded by gardening accessories.

New to gardening? You’re in the right place!

BobVila.com is your hub for all things seeds, soil, and plants. We’ll help you set up your first garden— whether it’s a few pots on your patio, a raised bed, or a in-ground plot out back, and select the right plants for your soil and region. You’ll also get all the info you need about fertilizers, garden tools, and controlling weeds and garden pests. 

Get ready to dig in!

Lawn & Garden

10 Things Every New Gardener Needs to Know

Is starting a garden on your to-do list this year? Here’s what you need to know before lifting a shovel or planting a seed.

By Mark Wolfe

An organized vegetable garden layout in a suburban backyard.
Landscaping

How to Lay Out a Vegetable Garden for the Best Possible Harvest

By Lauren Landers

last frost date
Lawn & Garden

First and Last Frost Dates: What All Home Gardeners Should Know

By Mark Wolfe

Illustrated map of United States labeled with color coded plant hardiness zones.
Gardening

Understanding USDA Plant Hardiness Zones

By Glenda Taylor, Gretchen Heber

12 Little-Known Tricks to Make This Year’s Vegetable Garden a Success
Gardening

12 Little-Known Tricks to Make This Year’s Vegetable Garden a Success

By Steph Coelho

Seed Starting

A variety of plant starts and seedings in black trays, including lettuces, broccoli and other vegetables.
Gardening

I’m an Avid Gardener, and These Are My 10 Go-To Seed Companies

Don’t buy from “seedy” suppliers. As this former master gardener explains, dependable sources for quality garden supplies are worth their weight in gold.

By Audrey Stallsmith

Woman places a domed seed-starting tray on a table next to a sunny window.
House Plants

How Starting Seeds Indoors This Year Will Help You Grow a Better Garden Than Ever

Give your garden a head start by starting your seeds indoors. When your last frost date rolls around, you’ll have seedlings ready for planting in the ground.

By Glenda Taylor, Mark Wolfe, Updated by Teresa Odle

Close-up of woman's hand sowing seed in soil.
Gardening

5 Cheap Seed-Spacing Tricks Every Home Gardener Should Know

Before you toss that old ice cube tray or coffee can into the garbage or recycling bin, consider reusing it in your garden.

By Sandi Schwartz

Raised Bed Gardening

Everything You Need to Start a Raised Bed Garden
Lawn & Garden

Everything You Need to Start a Raised-Bed Garden, According to a Seasoned Gardener

Discover raised-bed gardening tools that can improve soil quality, simplify maintenance, and increase yields.

By Debbie Wolfe

Photo of a couple working on a raised garden bed in their yard by the river. The man pours a bag of soil into the bed, standing next to a wheelbarrow.
Gardening

This Is the Best Way to Fill a Raised Garden Bed—Plus 4 Alternative Methods

Lasagna, hugelkultur, Ruth Stout—there are many interesting choices of how to fill a raised garden bed. Your choice should reflect the availability of time and materials at hand.

By Lori Lovely

Vegetables growing in raised beds in the home garden
Lawn & Garden

15 Tips for Planning a Successful Raised Garden

How big should the bed be, and how should you arrange the plants? Grow a bountiful garden without a lot of effort or space with these raised garden bed success secrets.

By Glenda Taylor, Kelly Weimert

Gardening on a Budget

free ways to start a garden - garden tools standing in garden
DIY

20 Totally Free Ways to Start a Garden This Year

Learn some of our favorite “something from nothing” tips and tricks for setting up a lush, lively garden plot.

By Donna Boyle Schwartz, Kat Hodgins

Close-up of plant growing in plastic bottle.
Lawn Care

19 “Zero Dollar” Garden Hacks

When it comes to fertilizing, watering, and controlling pests in your garden, there’s no need for fancy gadgets: Old-fashioned ingenuity does the trick every time.

By Kelsey Savage

Metal wheelbarrow full of sunflowers and gardening supplies on a gravel path.
Lawn & Garden

11 Surprising Places to Get Free Gardening Supplies and Save Money

Discover ways to get your garden up and running this spring without needing a money tree.

By Deirdre Mundorf

Want to Start Growing Your Own Food This Year? Plant These 16 Veggies.

Learn more about these easy-to-grow vegetables.

  • Bush of pole beans growing and hanging off brach with a yellow flower in the background.
    Beans | Photo: iStock
  • Gardener hands harvesting red radishes.
    Radishes | Photo: iStock
  • Top-down view of mature smooth spinach plant growing in garden soil
    Spinach | Photo: iStock
  • Mixed lettuce growing in garden soil.
    Salad Greens and Lettuce | Photo: iStock
  • Closeup of raw broccoli rabe.
    Broccoli Rabe | Photo: bhofack2 / Depositphotos
  • Closeup of rainbow chard, with colorful pink, yellow and orange stems.
    Rainbow Chard | Photo: Creativestock / Depositphotos
  • A zucchini plant growing in a home garden during dry summer.
    Zucchini | Photo: ideeone/E+ via Getty Images
  • A large rhubarb plant growing in a home garden
    Rhubarb | Photo: iStock
  • Basil growing in a home garden in June.
    Basil | Photo: iStock
  • Young kale plants growing in the garden.
    Kale | Photo: iStock
  • Pea garden plant with open bean pod with exposed peas.
    Peas | Photo: iStock
  • flowers that attract bees - pink bloomed chives
    Chives | Photo: iStock
  • types of peppers - bell peppers on plant
    Peppers | Photo: iStock
  • A bushel of ripe red tomatoes on a tomato plant vine.
    Tomatoes | Photo: iStock
  • Fingers are pinching the top of a mint plant.
    Mint | Photo: iStock
  • Two cucumbers hanging on cucumber plant in garden.
    Cucumbers | Photo: iStock

Essential Gardening Gear for Spring