How to Make Your Garden Thrive (Not Just Survive) This Season, According to Experts

A garden can be a place where productivity meets serenity. After clearing an area and pushing seeds into the ground, slowly but surely plants should grow and your vision for a verdant hideaway takes shape. At least, that’s how you might have intended it to go. Perhaps the reality of growing your garden has been far more of a challenge—that’s totally normal.

“Don’t be afraid to make mistakes,” says Angela Judd, owner and founder of Growing in the Garden. “They’re often the best teachers.”

If you’ve gone through the process of starting a garden, but you’re noticing issues that have made leaves brown or veggies bitter despite your best efforts, don’t give up the dirt. “Our garden has evolved over time,” says Vandana Koranne, the founder of Humans Who Grow Food. “And that is how it should be. Don’t strive to create a paradise overnight.” Judd and Koranne know how tough it can be to get a garden underway, and they’re sharing their tips for making one thrive—not just survive!—as a beginner. Here’s how you can course correct and eventually build the garden you had in mind.

Plant for the Season

Deciding what to plant in your garden is a careful balance between what you’ll actually eat or put on display in your home, and what’s in season. As you make a list of personal preferences, spend some extra time cross-referencing those picks with your calendar. If a choice is better suited for sometime in the future, save it for later as a harvest to look forward to. “Warm-season crops like tomatoes, squash, beans, and peppers prefer the warm weather during summer,” Judd says, as one example. If you need more help deciding on what’s best, visit your local community garden for tips.

Spend Time in Your Garden Every Day

Even the most dedicated gardener will get busy. There’s always so many things to check off a to-do list during the day, but don’t forget to add a walk through your plot to your schedule. “Spending time in your garden every day is the best way to help it thrive,” Judd says. “Daily observation lets you catch problems when they’re still small and easy to manage.” Perhaps you’ll notice that your kale leaves aren’t a dark shade of green while sipping your morning coffee, or a tomato plant has a few unwanted visitors during an afternoon break. “It’s easy to handpick a squash bug or two, but once several generations take hold, the problem becomes much harder to control,” Judd notes.

Harvest Regularly

While you might have envisioned vines of robust vegetables and many bright flowers bursting in front of your windows as you were first planting your garden, don’t let the beauty delay you from harvesting when you should. “The best time to pick is when crops are young and tender—that’s when they taste best,” Judd says. “If you leave produce on the vine too long, it signals the plant to slow production and invites pests and diseases.” As you take stock of your garden during daily visits, you should also be prepared to bring your harvest inside. A wide basket and a sharp pair of shears should be in your arsenal, ready to make bouquets and fresh bites part of your routine.

Pay Close Attention to the Soil

Setting up a watering schedule might be a good idea at the start of your garden, but sticking to it without observation isn’t the secret to success. “Check the soil before you water so you know whether it actually needs moisture and avoid overwatering,” Judd says. Place your finger in the soil to determine how moist or dry it is, and water accordingly. It’s also best to get this task done at the start of the day, to ensure that your plants have as much time as possible to absorb the water while the sun is out. Lastly, make sure the soil doesn’t dry out prematurely, either. “Use mulch or hay to cover the soil for moisture retention,” Koranne says. “It makes a huge difference.”

Dot Your Garden With Pollinators

You might be extra focused on getting bright veggies and bold herbs to grow well in your garden, and not as concerned with getting flowers to be just as strong. But, that might be a mistake. “Our garden has herbs, hot peppers, garlic, and pollinator flowers interspersed with veggie plants throughout,” Koranne says. She says that you should refrain from using synthetic fertilizers or pesticides in your garden, and instead plant pollinator flowers and other insect-deterring greens to do the work naturally. Judd agrees. “Growing flowers and herbs alongside my vegetables has been a game-changer,” she says. “As I walk around my garden, it is buzzing with life as different kinds of beneficial insects and pollinators help to pollinate and protect my plants.”