Want to cultivate your green thumb but don’t know where to start? Check out our gardening for beginners guide: It has everything you need to know about how to plant and how to grow a successful garden.

Don't let strange plants, funky soil and Latin terms intimidate you. Even if you don't know a peony from a petunia, you can enjoy gardening success your very first year with our expert tips and tricks.

Common Gardening Tasks Made Easy

Get the Ground Rules

Gardening 101 »New to gardening? Paul James offers eight tips that will ensure your success.

Shop Smart

Sizing Up Plants »Should you buy the small version of a plant or the larger one?

Advice From Fellow Gardeners

From Blunder to Bloom »A former gardening novice chronicles her journey from clueless to capable.

Growing Shrubs and Trees

Top 10 Patio Trees »Trees that offer cooling shade, beautiful flowers and great form — all in a small package.

Plant Your Veggies

Sowing Sense »Confused by the fine print? Here's what those seed-packet instructions really mean.

How to Care for Your Garden

Good (and Bad) Gardening Ideas »Pesticide and fertilizer bloopers: It's time to bury some common gardening practices.

Top 6 Most Common Questions From Gardeners


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Quiz

What's Your Gardening IQ?Test your planting savvy — and pick up tips along the way.

3 More Things You'll Want to Know

Do Your MathHow much mulch do you need to cover a bed three inches deep? Here's the arithmetic you'll need to garden. What's Your Zone?Find the plants that are right for your climate. Need Room to Grow?Gardening on a patio or balcony? You can grow anything in a pot.

Community

Share Gardening Tips Make new gardening friends and swap great ideas on our message boards.

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