Do you want to plant a vegetable garden? A herb garden? A flower garden? If you choose vegetables and herbs for their contribution to your dinner table, plant those that your family will eat or are willing to try. If you want flowers for their style, color and fragrance, decide whether you want annuals that bloom most of the summer but need to be replanted each spring or perennials that have a shorter bloom time but return year after year. Each, or even a combination, makes a great garden but will have different maintenance requirements. A little advice: Start small until you know what you’re getting yourself into.
Almost all vegetables and many types of flowering plants need 6-8 hours of full sun each day. So you need to observe your garden throughout the day to figure out which spots get full sun vs. partial or full shade. Don’t worry if your garden is mostly shady: You won’t be able to grow tomatoes in shade, but many other plants (like hostas and outdoor ferns) will do just fine. Check plant labels or ask the staff at your local garden center to help you understand how much sun a plant needs.
If possible, choose a relatively flat site for your garden as managing a sloping garden is more difficult, time consuming and potentially more expensive. And make sure your new garden has easy access to a water source.
