Keeping a great garden can be lots of fun, as well as a way to make your home look better from the outside. If you grow vegetables, it can also be a great source of fresh, nutritious foods for you and your family. Here are some of the best tips for turning your garden into the envy of everyone else in your neighborhood.

Start with Great Soil

If you want plants to grow well, you need to start with rich soil that will provide them with plenty of nutrients. Organic topsoil, sold by the bag at many hardware stores, can give your garden the start it needs to grow healthy plants. If you want to make your soil even richer, you can consider incorporating manure or compost for extra nitrogen. Mix these additives into the soil that’s already in your yard, and you’ll have a great foundation for your garden.

Choose the Right Seeds

If you want the perfect garden, you need to be selective with your seeds. Not only should you choose plants that will look and grow well together, but you should also consider whether or not the seeds you’re getting are good for your particular climate zone. If you plan to grow vegetables, consider the yield of each hybrid variety in order to get the most out of your garden.

Optimize Your Irrigation and Drainage

Everyone knows that plants need water to grow, but getting the exact amount of water right can be a little tricky. A good solution is to install an automatic irrigation system that will water your plants at specific times and for specific periods to ensure that they’re getting exactly what they need. You should also install a good garden drainage system, since plants can be harmed by water sitting on their roots for too long.

Rotate Seasonally

One thing that will easily make your garden stand apart from your neighbors’ is rotating the plants you have in it with the seasons. If you’re growing a flower garden, this means planting annuals for spring, summer and autumn. With vegetable gardens, you have even more latitude to rotate, as you can start with crops such as peas that mature early, then plant autumn harvest crops like squashes. Tomatoes, peppers, green beans, lettuce and broccoli can fill out your vegetable garden, as they’ll produce consistent harvests throughout the summer.

By keeping these simple tips in mind, you can create a great garden that will be the envy of all of your neighbors. Keep in mind, though, that keeping a great garden will still require plenty of work on your part.