| Don't force yourself out of the most profitable | | | | you have a reasonable idea of all you want from |
| hobby in the universe because you think it's too hard | | | | your garden, take some notes and think about it for |
| to learn ...It isn't! | | | | a while. Don't leap in too soon-more often than not |
| Gardening is fast becoming the world's number one | | | | you'll land up doing the same job twice. Browse |
| hobby, and with all the latest 'alternative' information | | | | through garden catalogs, take a little time and do a |
| we have to hand, gardening as a natural science is | | | | little planning.But not for too long! Don't let the ideas |
| fun to learn about and rewarding in the | | | | wither into another was-gonna-do-one-day file.If you |
| extreme...Produce your own fruit and veg - cut the | | | | have enough of a budget to buy your garden |
| shopping trips.Keep it organic!- be nice to the planet, | | | | structures and furniture, do this first, and position |
| and your body.Stay fit and healthy with exercise and | | | | them in your garden. Then create your flower beds, |
| fresh air.Spend quality family time in the | | | | vegetable plots and wildlife patches around these |
| outdoors.Turbo boost your creative spiritAnd if that | | | | structures.If you don't have cash up front, don't |
| isn't enough to be going on with, learn about | | | | worry. The things you need will come to you. For |
| plant-kind in all it's glory. From trees through to fungi, | | | | now, prepare the space as if you DID have the |
| there are millions of plants to research, grow and | | | | shed, or bench or whatever, and work around these |
| eat- no chance of getting bored!First you have to | | | | areas.Start all the patches and work on them as and |
| take your first step.Start gardening, be a gardener, | | | | when you can, or start one patch and get it finished |
| enjoy your garden.Starting from scratch? Let your | | | | before moving on to the next. How you work in |
| imagination run wild. Stand in the centre (-ish) of your | | | | your garden depends on a number of things...size of |
| garden and imagine..close your eyes if you like.Don't | | | | land and budgethelping hands availableseasons and |
| hold back. Let your creative thoughts flow. How | | | | the weathertime slots and energy levels!Treat |
| much can you do with your space? Don't imagine for | | | | gardening as an ongoing hobby rather than a project |
| one minute that a simple lawn will let you off the | | | | to be started and finished. Plants are growing life |
| hook here. A lawn needs maintaining, and mowing | | | | forms and will always be changing the shape and feel |
| regularly - for EVER..and it can get kind of boring to | | | | of your garden. Go with it where you can, and prune |
| look at as well! How about creatinga butterfly patcha | | | | heavily where you have to!Get the kids involved with |
| wildflowers cornera vegetable plota herb gardena | | | | quick-germinating seeds, and fast-growing plants. |
| water featureThen you will need a shed to store | | | | Many retailers offer special seed mixtures for kids. |
| your tools. Where would that be best placed in your | | | | Pumpkins are great for getting the kids interested in |
| garden? Don't waste a sunny position with a garden | | | | gardening.Learn about edible flowers and teach the |
| structure. Sheds don't need to be in full sun to | | | | children what can and can't be eaten - and why.Don't |
| survive!Is there enough space to place garden | | | | let the grass grow under your feet. Get in on the |
| furniture? Rather than going for the | | | | action now. Turn off the TV, put your wellies on and |
| table-and-four-chairs-on-patio style, can you place | | | | leap into nature!Linda Gray is a freelance writer and, |
| benches and small tables in semi-shady spots near | | | | with her partner. has spent ten years renovating a |
| the honeysuckle or round the herbs?When you think | | | | neglected acre of woodland. |