1. Sharpen your tools. The most important tool to have sharpened is your lawnmower blade. Using a dull blade can injure your grass and make it susceptible to disease, which can be very costly to correct. In fact, this is so important, you may even want to consider having a spare blade on hand so that you never find yourself having to even consider using a dull blade. In addition, you should have all of your tools, such as shovels, hoes and pruning shears sharpened to a fine edge also.

2. If you are the type who hesitates to work in the yard because you feel you do more harm than good, this may not be the case. If have had problems in previous years getting foliage or grass to grow in your yard, something as simple as a soil test can help you towards planting a thriving garden. A soil test can determine the type of fertilizers and soil conditioners you need to use. If you are the owner of a new home and just beginning the landscaping in your front and back yards, this is a very important step to take if you intend to plant a new lawn. Testing the soil first can save you hundreds of dollars by helping you avoid laying down sod that dies quickly and ends up needing to be replaced.

3. You may want to consider keeping a journal. Keeping a journal will help you track your successes and failures in your garden, so that you don't repeat the same mistakes, and so that you know what methods work and don't work with certain plants, and which plants should be moved with the change of the seasons.

4. Throw away any outdated chemicals. Follow the instructions on the label exactly. If the chemicals are beyond their expiration date than dispose of them and buy new ones. Using outdated chemicals can be detrimental to your garden, killing off the plant life and making a mess of everything.

5. As your garden begins to grow and all of your hard effort starts to pay off, make sure and prune. Timing is very important when pruning. For some plants, the flowers that will come up next year will set within 10 days of the end of a bloom. Because of this fact, it is important that you be knowledgeable about the plants and flowers growing in your garden.

Gardening is not for everyone, which is why it is nice knowing there is the option of hiring someone to do the job for you instead of following the steps above. However, for many gardening is a relaxing and fun hobby that brings hours of enjoyment, both while working at it, as well as while looking over the fruits of their labor. No matter which category you fall into, these tips are a great way to help you get started.