The amount of sunlight a garden receives should be noted. Many plants require a specific amount of sunlight to grow: some flourish in full sun, while others grow better in the shade. Conveniently, when purchasing a plant, the tag will tell you how much sunlight the plant needs.

A garden can have different amounts of sunlight at different points throughout the day or year, and the garden's surroundings, like trees and walls, can affect the amount of sunlight received. Once leaves start to sprout on trees, this may create more shade than you had originally anticipated; shadows from nearby walls might also prevent flora from getting enough light.

New England

Northeastern United States

USDA Hardiness Zones 3 - 6

The cold wet winters delay the start of the growing season until late April or as far back as June.

Mid-Atlantic

Spans the area between Toronto and Ottawa down to Washington, D.C. and the northernmost regions of Virginia

USDA Hardiness Zones 3 - 7.

High humidity along the coasts leads to a lot of water in the form of rain and snow.

Growing season varies. The northern states will have a short season (roughly May to September), but as you head south to states with a warmer climate, the growing season extends (April to November).

Coastal and Tropical South

The coasts of South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, parts of Louisiana and eastern Texas, and the entire state of Florida

USDA Hardiness Zones 8 - 11

Year-round warmth leads to a practically unending growing season, but the scorching summers common to this region can kill plants. Also be wary of this region's vulnerability to hurricanes and tropical storms, which can damage or destroy plants.

 Upper South

Large area from Washington D.C. to Oklahoma. Includes most of Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, northern Arkansas, and Oklahoma

USDA Hardiness Zones 5 - 7

The warmer parts of this region have long growing season (March to November in some cases). Colder areas can see the last frost in April or May, which will delay the start of the growing season.

Pacific Northwest

Southern British Columbia through northwestern California.

USDA Hardiness Zones 7 - 9

Winters aren't very cold and summers aren't too hot; this leads to a long and cool growing season.

This region is notoriously very rainy--watch out as too much water may damage plants.

There is a large variety of plants to choose from. Choosing the ones best suited for your yard is perhaps the most important part of gardening, and the height, flower color, and light requirements of each plant must be considered. A good idea is to sketch out your garden on a piece of paper so you can figure out what will go where before you actually start digging. For instance, taller plants block the view of shorter ones and this might affect the design of your garden. If your garden is along a wall or fence, it is often recommended that larger plants are placed at the back; if the garden is circular or oval, tall items should be at the center. Choosing a theme for your garden can also help you find which plants work best.

Colors

Orange and yellow blooms might make a full-sun garden look way too hot, but they can really brighten up shady gardens. Dark-colored plants, such as red and blue shades of flowers, tend to make a garden look cool in full sun and may appear lost in the shade.

Before anything can be planted, you must remove unwanted grass or weeds. This is best done by digging them up with a shovel or spade. You can till your garden with a rotary tiller ; however, this alone is inefficient and the grass and weeds will most likely come back. Another alternative is to use an herbicide . Once offending plants begin to show signs of death, you can then roto-till. Be wary that nearby tree roots may interfere with the tines of the rotary tiller and then a shovel will be necessary.  

Once the garden is clear, you'll need to worry about the soil. Soil that lacks nutrients or is too high or too low in acid or alkaline level will be unsuitable for many plants. Use a shovel or tiller to add compost, aged manure, peat, or sand to your soil to give it fresh nutrients and the proper consistency. These amendments will also neutralize the acid level, thus making it suitable for a larger range of flowers.

One of the common mistakes made in gardening is how much to water the plants. Plant tags and labels will offer a description and specify desired light and water requirements; it's a good idea to place plants with similar water requirements together. You should always follow the water requirements of specific plants as some may need more or less water.

When you are watering outdoors, a sprinkler system , a soaker hose , or a garden hose  with a water breaker nozzle  is sufficient. If you are using a hose, make sure that it doesn't deliver a strong stream, as this could damage plants. For plants in containers, you can use a hose or watering can . Make sure there are holes in the bottom of the flowerpot for excess water to drain.

Animals

Animals like rabbits, deer, and squirrels may be cute and cuddly, but they can wreak havoc on your garden. 

• If you have a dog, have it urinate around your garden. The smell will keep small animals away. 
• Taste: Dilute hot sauce or cayenne pepper with water and spray it on your garden. Animals will stay away once they've gotten a taste.
• Build a fence around your garden.
• Cage traps can capture small animals like rabbits without harming them. Lure them in with some lettuce, carrots, or cabbage.  Once captured, you can take them to a nearby woods and release them.
• Combine human hair and blood meal (seriously). It scares off deer.

Insects

Those pesky insects will do whatever it takes to take a bite out of your garden. Here are some simple, convenient, and even organic ways to get rid of insects.

• Pepper spray: Capsaicin, the active ingredient in pepper spray, causes damage to the cell membrane and nervous system of insects and mites. Many pepper sprays marketed in the US are used as insect repellant.
• For indoor pest control: Soak cotton balls in pest-repelling solutions, like peppermint oil, and place them throughout the plant's branches to deter unwanted insects.
• Dishwashing liquid is toxic to a number of insects. This makes it a great and popular form of insect repellant.
• Dissolve Epsom salt in water. It is toxic to insects.

• Suffocates weeds
• Protects roots near the soil's surface
• Keeps soil moist by retaining moisture
• Reduces erosion
• Reduces pest and disease damage
• Provides nutrients 

Round Point Shovel 

One of the most used shovels, round points are versatile: they are used to dig and scoop dirt or to cut through roots. 

Square Point Shovel 

This shovel has a flat, square nose. In addition to being used for scooping and shoveling, it is also used to level areas for walkways and patios, and squaring off the sides and bottoms of ditches. 

Transplanting Spade 

 Their long, narrow heads make them ideal for digging and moving perennials and shrubs, while limiting the disturbance to surrounding plants. 

Scoop Shovel 

These shovels are designed to move light and loose materials such as sawdust or dried manure. 

Garden Forks

Garden forks, such as pitchforks (barn forks) and spading forks , perform many gardening tasks, including tilling the soil, breaking up clumps of soil, and weeding large areas. 

Pick and Mattock 

This is used for digging through hard and tightly packed soil and clay. The pick is the pointed end and the mattock is the wide blade.

Garden Hoe and Scuffle Hoe 

Hoes are useful for weeding and grooming soil around shallow-rooted plants. They can also chop off annual weeds and other plants at ground levels.

Cultivator 

Cultivators are used to remove shallow-rooted weeds and to break up surface soil crust.

Bow Rake 

Bow rakes are used to rake heavier materials. Because the bow shape absorbs shock, this style of rake is the easiest to use. 

Lawn Rake 

Lawn rakes are for removing leaves and clippings.

Pruning Shears 

There are a large variety of pruning sheers, including Blade & Anvil, Hook & Blade, scissor shears, and grass shears.

Hedge Shears 

Not to be used for pruning, hedge shears are for shaping hedges and shrubs, and for shearing back ground covers and faded flower heads.

Lopping Shears 

Lopping shears are designed mainly for cutting branches.

Weeding Hoe 

A weeding hoe has two sides. One head is a narrow head and the other is a two- or three-tined weeder/cultivator.

Weeder 

Weeders are very useful for weeding between steeping stones or other tight areas.

Hand Cultivator 

Hand cultivators are used for digging down and removing tap roots of perennial weeds without disturbing the roots of nearby plants.

Garden Trowel 

There are two types of garden trowels. Drop shank trowels are used for general gardening use, and straight-shanked trowels are for planting bulbs.

Bulb Planter 

This tool is used to determine the correct depth at which to plant bulbs.

Fertilizer Spreader

As the name states, these are used to spread fertilizer. There are two types of fertilizer spreaders: drop spreaders  and broadcast spreaders .

Wheelbarrows  and Carts 

Both are used for transporting large loads. 

Gerber 22-41578 Gorge Folding Shovel 

This best-selling shovel has the ability to fold and slide for versatility and convenience. 

Black & Decker PCS10 Plant Smart Digital Plant Care Sensor 

Insert this in the ground for 24 hours and it will measure sunlight, temperature, moisture, soil conditions, and more.

The Winter Harvest Handbook 

This best-seller shows you had to grow your own food, even in the dead of winter.

Fiskars 7067 3-Piece Softouch Garden Tool Set  

This three-piece set is a good buy for the beginner gardener.

Gaia's Garden: A Guide to Home-Scale Permaculture 

Work with nature when creating your garden, not against it. This well-reviewed book will teach you how.