Gardening is one of the most popular outdoor pastimes for both the young and old, in fact, it seems to only be getting more popular in recent years. And while past experience may have some many thinking they were born with thumbs of death—green thumbs reside in us all given the proper nurturing and equipment. The skills to being a good gardener aren’t unattainable and little truly separates professionals from home gardeners.

If your intention is to garden like a professional you will require three essentials: proper planning, the right equipment, and commitment. On their own, each of these aspects is important to consider, but together they become essential to a fully functional garden. 

By looking at each of the above three factors in detail below, any potential gardener should be able to make their space a variable oasis with a minimal outlay of time and effort. So, without further ado, let’s roll up our sleeves and dig in! 

Planning Your Garden Like a Professional

One of the hardest parts of gardening is resisting the urge to head down to the local garden center, fill up a cart with plants, and plant them where they fall in your yard once home. Such a slap-dash approach can feel like “real” gardening, but, in reality, it’s a waste of both time and energy. Coming up with a good plan for your garden first is a good way to avoid these pitfalls.

Gardening professionals already know the importance of having a good plan before letting any spades hit the dirt. This is why they meticulously plan to ensure each plant will have the proper amount of sun, the right type of soil, and plenty of space to thrive. If you need help figuring out the proper care for a plant you wish to have, check with your local university’s gardener’s extension program, such as this example from the University of Illinois.

Gardening Equipment the Pros Use

One of the biggest differentiators between a lay gardener and a professional will often be the quality of the equipment that they employ. Many amateur gardeners will make the mistake of trying to save a little bit of money by going with a cheaper product. Unfortunately, in gardening, you often get what you pay for, which means equipment that breaks faster than a Ford Pinto if you opt for the cheap stuff. And a broken shovel isn’t just a waste of money, it can be dangerous! 

When it comes to equipment, opt for sturdy construction of tools such as shovels and machines like mowers or snowblowers. Make sure you take good care of all equipment by cleaning it after each use, this will prolong the life of quality tools. Also don’t forget about accessories, while some attachments may seem superfluous, some, such as lawnmower canopy, can be a lifesaver when trimming the grass under a scorching sun.

Essential Garden Equipment Includes:

  • Gardening gloves (Thick, to protect from thorns, etc.)
  • Digging implements (spades, trowels, shovels.)
  • A rake
  • Hosing
  • A lawnmower
  • Mower accessories (such as a riding lawn mower canopy)
  • Sprinklers (many smart systems incorporate timers)
  • Wheelbarrow
  • Sheers
  • Spade
  • Garden for

In addition to the above tools and equipment, a gardener will obviously still need essentials such as plants, mulch, soil, and more. These are important costs to consider as some households will spend thousands on plants alone.

Committing to Your Garden

The final aspect is what fails most gardens and gardeners at some point: a lack of commitment. This isn’t to say that you aren’t truly excited to work on your dream garden, more so that it pays to be realistic in terms of what time and energy you have to make it a reality. Your dream Japanese garden with ornamental bonsai and a koi pond may be out of reach for those that can only commit a couple of hours a week to the hobby. 

This is why proper planning is so important, gardeners must make sure that they have the right size garden not only for their physical location but also for their most limited resource—time. Few people with a nine-to-five will be able to oversee an apple orchard, for example. In short, being realistic about what time a gardener can commit to their plot is essential, as it ensures a garden is set up for success. 

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help!

And there you have it, all the tips and tricks any gardening newbie can use to turn their ho-hum plantings into a showstopping collection that will have visitors raving. As we hope you have come to see, maintaining a professional garden needn’t be an undue burden on one’s time and money, with just a little bit of planning, quality equipment, and commitment to the hobby, anyone’s garden can shine—no matter its size. 

Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions or comments you may have below about gardens. We hope you’ve learned something new about gardening like a pro and that you’ve enjoyed yourself along the way, as always, thanks for reading!