Soil is essential for healthy plants. Soils can be amended with sand to make them looser and drier or with clay to make them moister and firmer. If you want nice flowers, please give doses of organic material -- old leaves, rotted livestock manure. Organic matter improves and nourishes any kind of soil which encourages better plant growth.

Without water, plants wilt and die. But too much water can be as bad for plants as not enough. If land plants are submerged in water for too long, they may rot or drown from lack of oxygen. Provide an inch of water a week for many plants and lawn grasses, to keep the soil lightly moist and to prevent it from drying out completely. But plants don't always follow the rules, there are exceptions to this general guidelines:

• Hot weather, sandy soil, or crowded intensive plantings may make more water.
• When the weather is cool or the soil is heavy and moisture-retentive, less water may be required.
• Young or new plantings require more moisture at the soil surface to help their roots get started. Please make sure you should water lightly.

Photosynthesis allows plants to make their own food, using only air and water. Many plants, especially flowers , vegetables, fruit trees thrive in bright sun, which provides abundant energy for growth, flowering, and fruiting. But some plants, particularly those native to forests and glens, need shadier conditions. Learn the sun requirements of any plant you intend to grow so you can put it in the right place.

Herbs are useful for cooking and decorating. Provide sandy soil for herbs that need well-drained soil of moderate fertility. Choose suitable soil to grow herbs nicely. Herbs for light soil: Lavender, Sage , Thyme, Oregano, Rosemary, etc. Herbs for moister soil: Mints, Basil, Chives, Parsley, etc.

Many gardeners are finding success with chemical-free gardening practices, using only natural means to grow their plants. Putting plants in the right amount of sun, along with suitable soil, proper spacing and watering, allows most plants to thrive with minimal upsets.

Many plants grow well from seeds, especially annual flowers, herbs, and vegetables. Seed sowing allows you to grow a few, dozens, or even hundreds of seedlings from a seed packet costing ten dollars or twenty. That's economy.

Container plants are perfect for spaces such as patios and decks, and they're a great way to get started with gardening. They are an excellent way to learn about gardening because they're easy to plant and give great results quickly.