Starting a garden from scratch can seem daunting to a beginner! But we’ve got lots of great ideas and free garden plans for every kind of garden, whether it’s big and sprawling or tiny. To start, look at the area you want to plant: Does it get full sun, which is 6 or more hours per day? Or it only gets partial sun, which is about half that, or full shade. Watch that space for a few days to get a feel for what’s happening at what time of day. Also consider seasonal changes. For example, an area that has full shade in the summer may be full sun in the spring.It is also important to be patient as gardens are not built overnight. They evolve over the years as you learn more about the plants you love. And whether you’re a seasoned gardener or a complete beginner, Mother Nature will continue to give you some unexpected twists and turns along the way.

The bottom line is that you are never done learning about plants and your garden. So embrace the challenges, enjoy the unexpected surprises, and read on to discover tons of great garden plants and layout ideas for your own backyard oasis.

Patio Garden bedbeautiful little garden plots filled with flowers and two red hummingbird feedersIf you are building a new patio, create a planting bed as part of the patio to define the space and make it feel more like a conservatory.The ultimate kitchen gardengarden plans in annual and perennial flower bed with white chair in our garden in northwest usSay hello to the pots of our dreams, designed by renowned gardener Jon Carloftis. Bursting with amazing edible plants hand-picked by some of the country’s best chefs, this gives new meaning to farm-to-table food because it’s your own backyard!