There’s something special about tending to a garden. Hands in the soil. Morning light stretching across newly sprouted leaves. The quiet satisfaction of nurturing something from the ground up. Gardening isn’t just about the harvest; it’s about slowing down, paying attention, and finding joy in the process. If you’ve ever dreamed of growing your own herbs for the kitchen or simply keeping a succulent flourishing next to you at your desk, you’re in the right place. Getting started doesn’t require a green thumb, just a little patience and the willingness to learn as you go.
For this guide, we talked with our Garden Team to help walk you through the basics: choosing the right plants for your space, understanding soil and sunlight, and simple tips to keep your garden thriving season after season. (Plus, a few bonus notes on growing houseplants!) Whether you’re working with a backyard planter or a pot in your kitchen, every garden starts the same way—with a seed of intention and the care to help it grow.
Choosing Your Plants
The best way to begin your gardening journey is to start by observing. Step outside, take a walk around your neighborhood, or visit a local nursery to see what’s already blooming. The plants growing nearby are a good indication of what will do well in your own garden. Your area’s climate will tell you a lot about what will thrive near you, and you can also look up the hardiness zone for some additional guidance. Each of these factors can serve as a helpful starting point to understanding your plants.
From there, take some time to read and research. Whether it’s flipping through a well-worn gardening book or tuning into a podcast on the way to work, learning about different plants—their needs, their habitat, and how they interact with their environment—will help you choose the right ones for your space.
Then, it's time to get introspective. As much as it's helpful to understand what sort of environment your plants will need, it's important to think about the type of plants you want to surround yourself with. Some good questions to ask are: Do you prefer flowers, veggies, succulents, or fruit? Are there any gardens (nearby or on the internet) that inspire you? What about these places gives you inspiration? How much time and energy do you hope to spend?
These questions help ensure your garden will be an authentic representation of you and a place you look forward to being every day. Once you think through these questions, you can get started on creating your own green haven. Tip: Try starting a gardening journal in the Magnolia Vegan Leather Notebook or Herbarium Journal.
Learn Your Plant’s Habits
Just like your skincare regimen or morning cup of coffee, water and sunlight are important aspects to your plant’s daily routine. Watering can be a challenge, and it’s normal to make some mistakes along the way. Warmer climates may require watering your plants more often than in a cooler one. A general rule of thumb is to make sure you’re watering the roots, as that’s where plants need hydration the most.
Additionally, food for plants is more than just water—you need to make sure your plant gets enough sunlight to thrive. To learn more about the needs of your specific plant variety, your local nursery or a gardening expert on social media may provide good recommendations for where to begin.
Create Your Plant’s Home
Now you can do your own mini “Mini Reni” and create your plant’s home. It’s best to understand if your flora does better in a raised bed (like tomatoes or strawberries), a pot (like peppers or herbs), or window boxes (like perennial flowers). Some plants can thrive in different homes, so don’t feel like you’re limited. These different spaces may use different types of soil, like raised bed soil or ground soil.
If planting a houseplant, a mix of potting soil and material like perlite (volcanic glass) can help with drainage for your plant while keeping it nourished. Some plants prefer more acidic soil and some soils also hold a higher amount of organic matter. If organic soil is important to you, you can use an at home soil test to make sure that the soil is high in microbes, which helps nourish your plants.
Another way to nourish your plants is through composting or using a fertilizer... It’s all about how you want to work with your plants and how they respond to different environments. Composting requires saving things like kitchen scraps and yard waste to create a nutrient-dense enrichment for your plant, while fertilizer can be bought from the store and intermittently placed in your pot to give your plant an extra boost. Part of the beauty of tending to plants is that your journey will be personal. Don’t be afraid to change things up and learn along the way—this is part of the joy of gardening!
Once you understand your plants and their needs, it’s time to get digging! We recommend starting a gardening kit with a pair of pruners, a watering hose/can, gloves, a trowel, a rake, and a shovel. As time goes on, you can add more tools to your collection, but a strong foundation is important, as is keeping your tools in good condition, i.e. dry and clean.
Houseplants and More
If you’re looking to bring the outside in, houseplants are a great solution. You may want to try propagation (growing something new from existing sources, like stem cuttings) or work with plants from your local nursery.
When selecting and potting houseplants, you want to focus on five main ideas: location, light, pests, potting, and water. To decide on where you’d like your houseplant to live, think about the space and light in your rooms. How much light does your plant need and where could your plant be placed for it to get that amount of sunlight? Once you decide on a location, you’ll want to choose your plant and pot. Picking your plant out of a selection is an important step.
Magnolia Network storyteller and gardening expert Hilton Carter says it best, “You want to start off at 100%.” To do this, make sure your plant has stems that are sturdy and strong, is pest-free (check the bottom and top of the foliage, around the stems, and in the soil), and stretches up toward the sun (unless the shape of the plant goes in another direction). Next, think about your pot. Carter recommends terracotta pots as a starter for houseplants. Begin by partially filling your pot with the soil-perlite mixture. Then, carefully remove your plant from its original container and transfer it over to the partially filled pot. Top off your pot with soil and you’re left with a beautifully potted plant ready to be watered.
For specific care instructions on certain houseplants, watch Hilton Carter’s workshop series below:
The lessons of nature abound and gardening provides a world of peace and quietness. It’s a sanctuary for yourself—an excellent way to dial back in and notice what you might not otherwise. It doesn’t matter if it’s a small pot of mint or a flourishing bed of blooms, watching anything take root is a reminder that we can do the same.
