Whether you’re hoping to cultivate a thriving vegetable garden or add some color to your home’s facade, the gardening process involves a decent learning curve. Luckily, you’re not alone — many homeowners wander into garden and farm supply stores unsure of where to start. To get your landscape off on the right foot, use the following tips to your advantage.

How to Create a Beautiful Garden If You’re New to the Hobby

1. Use Quality Soil

Before you start digging, test your soil’s pH levels with a kit from a garden or farm supply store. The composition of your soil may affect the growth of your plants, particularly if it contains too much sand or clay. Most plants thrive in the slightly acidic to neutral range, or 6.0 to 7.0. If your soil falls outside this range, you may need to add fertilizer to promote healthy plant life.

2. Try Pots

If you’re running out of space in your garden to plant those vibrant perennials, or if you’d like to have foliage on your patio or gazebo, you can expand your landscape by planting flowers, vegetables, and small trees in pots. The average garden and farm supply store will have a variety of models, and you can choose the size and material of the pot based on the plant you’ll be putting inside it. For example, plants that need substantial watering, such as irises and ferns, may require pots with drainage saucers.

3. Lay Mulch

If you’re new to gardening, you might not be well-versed in the advantage of mulching. However, this common farm supply isn’t only used to make gardens look neater. A layer of wood chips or straw can also retain moisture in the soil around your sensitive plants, as well as prevent weeds from getting the sunlight and oxygen they need to grow. Mulch will also protect your flowers, edible plants, and trees from the harsh temperatures of summer and winter.

Gardening can be a complicated and nuanced process, but with the right tools and skills, you’ll earn a green thumb in no time. For all of your gardening and farm supply needs, head to Gregg Farm Services in Gassville, AR. This trusted equipment store can help you turn your bare landscape into a blooming garden with a wide variety of outdoor power equipment, herbicides, garden seed, and other essentials. Visit the website to browse their inventory or call (870) 481-5165 to speak to a knowledgeable member of the team today.