It’s that time again. Spring has arrived and we are in the thick of the planting season. So now what? You may have dreams of a beautiful garden but you may have no idea where to start. Here are a few starter tips in your quest for the perfect garden conditions.

Calculating the amount of sunlight your garden receives is very important. Taking shadows into consideration is equally important. By this, I mean, that you need to keep in mind the shade that will be coming from surrounding tree, shrubs, and even buildings or fencing. For some gardens this could be a benefit but for others it could be disaster.

In gardens containing lots of leafy vegetables shade can be appropriate. Do you have a nice section of land that gets full-sun but a small section of the area receives more shade than light? Then try planting your shade-tolerant vegetables in that particular spot. Vegetables such as lettuce, spinach, endive, and arugula grow very well in shady areas.

Be aware that most plants that fruit from a flower require a full day of sun. So to be on the safe side do a little research on the light requirements for the plants that you will be using. Something as simple as lighting can be the difference between a healthy and an unhealthy garden.

Another important aspects of proper gardening is the preparation of the soil. To make things easier on yourself you can add limestone to the area in the fall. But if there has been no preparation done to the soil you can add limestone when you are ready to begin planting.

If the area you have chosen for your garden is covered with weeds you may want to consider using a chemical to kill the existing plants. Be sure it is approved for gardens, or it may jeopardize the soil.

When the soil is adequately dry use a quality tiller to loosen and break up the top 7-8 inches of soil. Add lime and recommended fertilizer to the soil and run the tiller through the soil one last time to mix in the additives. Be sure to remove any large rocks you find. Finally, smooth the soil out with a rake. If the soil in your garden has a strong clay consistency and may allow water to gather then you may want to make ‘raised’ rows for water drainage. Do this simply by using a hoe to pull soil into rows that are 7-10 inches in width. This will allow water to flow easily from the mounds.

Begin your garden correctly and it will flourish throughout the entire growing seasons. Care for your plants and they will thrive for you.