Ready to dig into gardening? Gardening Made Easy is the perfect beginner’s guide to step you through the basics. We’ll show you how to pick the best plants, prep your soil, and get growing. Whether you want to grow your own veggies, fruits, and herbs or attract birds and butterflies, we have your plan for success. If you have an itch to plant roses or just want a lush lawn with less upkeep, Gardening Made Easy will help you do it right. Plus, discover tips and tricks for how to plant everything from bulbs to trees and maintain the garden of your dreams—all in one magazine.
getting started • Ready to grow? That’s what gardening is all about. Getting outside, planting a seed or a seedling, and watching it turn into a beautiful flower or fresh veggie. Here’s how to jump into planting at home. Whether it’s in a container or two, in a small bed, or a garden around a patio, you’ll find gardening a rewarding experience.
plant BASICS • As you dream about what you want your garden to look like, you’ll need to know what mix of plants you want to sow, like annuals for their seasonal color and perennials for their good looks year after year. You’ll also want to consider shrubs and trees as foundational focal points. This rundown of plant types will help you select stars for your yard—and learn how to plant a border, too. Then see Tips & Tricks, pg. 84, for planting how-to.
TRUSTY TOOLS • Wielding the right tools simplifies the task part of gardening so you can focus on what you love about it—getting outside, harvesting your own flowers or veggies, relaxing on the patio, or playing with the family on the lawn.
SOIL know-how • Think of soil as your plants’ nutritional foundation. If you take good care of it, your garden will flourish. Check out this Q&A that’s all about soil, its various types, and how to improve it.
EASY EDIBLES • There’s no better way to enjoy the fruits—and vegetables and herbs—of your labor than by planting some tastefully tasty beds or containers.
lawn smarts • It’s the place where kids play, pets frolic, and you can hang out. Keep your grass fun by reducing its upkeep.
timeless ROSES • Roses are garden staples. Maybe that’s because they have been around for 70 million years. Or because breeders have worked on creating an abundance of colors, bloom sizes, heights, widths, and thornless varieties during the last two centuries. While all roses are classified as Rosa, common names can differ by location, so don’t go by a name alone. Instead, do some homework when selecting a rose to ensure it’s well-suited to your garden’s growing and light conditions.
COMMON ROSE VARIETIES • Within the three established rose categories, there are countless varieties. Here are 16 common ones.
garden design • Now it’s time to dig in! Here’s how to transform all the ideas you have gathered and plant lists you have made into a plan to bring your garden to life, one step at a time.
welcoming WILDLIFE • Invite birds, bees, butterflies, and more to stop by in a garden with a water source, shelter, and food from plants and feeders.
tips & tricks • Once you get your garden started, you can keep it happy, healthy, and thriving with this know-how.
planting • Planting and watching plants grow is a major reason gardening is so rewarding. Whether you start plants from seeds or seedlings, they’re container-grown or bare-root, these tips will jump-start your growing journey.
planting trees • Trees provide shade, shelter for wildlife, interesting foliage, and act as focal points. Trees are also a long-term commitment. Research which trees grow best in your region and yard conditions, and determine if their traits, including height, spread, and pruning needs, work for you before selecting one.
watering • This gardening to-do is an...
