Are you wanting to start a garden but don't know where to begin? These gardening tips for beginners are perfect for new gardeners.

1. Site it right.

Starting a garden is just like real estate it's all about location. Place your garden in a part of your yard where you'll see it regularly (out of sight, out of mind definitely applies to gardening). That way, you'll be much more likely to spend time in it.

2. Not sure when to prune? Prune spring-flowering shrubs, such as lilacs and large-flower climbing roses immediately after the blooms fade. They set their flower buds in autumn on last year's growth. If you prune them in fall or winter  you remove next spring's flower buds.

3.Test your soil.
To get a thorough reading of your soil’s pH and nutrient levels, send a sample to your local nursery or cooperative exstencion, suggests garden expert Christy Dailey of christy gardens. (There are also at-home testing kits available at Lowes, Home Depot, or any gardening store.) The results will tell you how acidic or alkaline your soil is, which affects how plants absorb nutrients. Since different plants thrive best in different pH levels, this test will help you decide what to plant or indicate how you should treat the soil.
Examine soil texture, too. “It should be easily shoveled and crumble in your hands,” says Annette Gutierrez, owner of Potted in Los Angeles. “If your soil is super hard or clay-like, it will be difficult for most plants to grow roots. Add fresh soil, mulch, and compost, being careful to aerate as much and as deep an area as you can before planting.”

4. Stay close to water.
One of the best gardening tips you'll ever get is to plan your new garden near a water source. Make sure you can run a hose to your garden site, so you don't have to lug water to it each time your plants get thirsty. The best way to tell if plants need watering is to push a finger an inch down into the soil (that's about one knuckle deep). If it's dry, it's time to water.

5. Don't clean up everything in your garden in fall. Leave ornamental grasses of beauty and the seed heads of perennials such as coneflowers to feed the birds. Avoid cutting back marginally hardy perennials, such as garden mumms to increase their chances of surviving a harsh winter.