Gardening is a popular pastime for a number of reasons. A lot of people enjoy being outdoors, working with their hands, creating works of art, and eating fresh, delicious vegetables. While it’s just a simple distraction for some, some others put a lot of care and effort into making their garden beautiful and productive. Either way, it’s important to know the basic techniques that gardeners employ.

Growing Organically: Organic gardening has grown in popularity considerably in the last couple of decades. This style requires a lot of natural fertilizers, forgoing chemical-based fertilizers, and it often results in tastier, more nutritious produce. Growing plants organically yourself is easier than you might think, even if you don’t have a lot of gardening experience. Raised beds are easy to build and fairly cheap to buy, and provide an ideal growing area that you can fill with compost and organic soil. As Gardening 101 dictates, the plants will need lots of sunlight, so be sure to place it in an area that stays well-lit for long periods.

Flower Gardening: Vibrant greens are beautiful, but a garden can be even prettier if you use colorful flowers to add accents. Even if you don’t want to dedicate a patch of land to growing flowers, a window box is always an option. You can fill them with good soil and plant an assortment of flower types to add various hues and textures. Certain types, such as geraniums and impatiens, excel in the environment of a window box. Types that grow from bulbs are another good choice, adding fragrance and effect. Some types sprout every spring. Daffodils and Hyacinths are very common choices from this group.

Edible Herbs: An especially good choice for those who love to cook, herbs are simple to grow. There are many familiar cooking herbs that are well-suited to gardens, including rosemary and oregano. They generally contain more flavor when they’re flowering, and it is easiest to pick them at peak freshness when you grow them yourself. They can be easily dehydrated for long-term storage and be used over a period of time to season meals. Most herbs thrive in both gardens and small containers. Certain ones should not be left outdoors during colder seasons, but will continue to grow for years if cared for properly.

While it can take some hard work and dedication, growing a garden is enjoyable to a wide range of people. In addition to spending time enjoying nature and creating a beautiful landscape, you also get to enjoy the fruits of your labor (pun intended) when you eat fresh produce and food seasoned with home-grown herbs. While there is no denying the work and dedication needed to have a successful garden, it might be a more attainable goal than many would think.

These helpful gardening tips come from the people at Stepping Stone, a community of new homes in Parker CO. Life is about forging your own path. Connecting one amazing experience to another, like stepping stones, until they form a direction that is entirely, uniquely your own.