Every garden is the end result of four basic steps: Planning, Preparation, Planting and Maintenance. These four steps can be as simple or as complicated as the gardener chooses to make them. Gardeners who want a small and simple cutting garden will use the same steps as gardeners who want a large and elaborate series of gardens. The new e-book “Gardening Made Easy" will give your all the information you need to plant, prepare, plant and maintain your garden. Here’s an overview of these four simple steps to create your dream garden.

Planning

Plan where you want to put your garden, checking carefully for sun exposure. Know how much sun the plants you want to grow need and how much water they will need. Plan to plant sun loving plants together and water loving plants together. Make sure you do not place plants with heavy water requirements next to plants that like dry conditions.

Preparation

Your soil is the foundation of your garden. Give your plants the best foundation possible by preparing your garden spot in three simple steps.

Step One: Remove all grass and weeds from your chosen gardening spot

Step Two: Till the soil, removing stones and breaking up large clods of earth.

Step Three: Amend the soil.

Planting

Sketch a rough drawing of what you want your completed garden to look like and follow through with planting seeds and established plants according to your plan. Guard against late spring freezes and give your new seedlings and plants plenty of water to give them a good, healthy start.

Maintenance

Maintain your garden simply and easily with consistent attention to weeding and watering. Feed your plants well but don’t over feed them. Deadhead your flowers to encourage re-blooming and to keep plants from expending energy on seed production. Be prepared for the onslaught of destructive insects and take steps to control the damage.