One day, you might wake up and find that you’d like to make your garden look pretty for once.

Not just kind of pretty, though, with a few potted plants and a hammock for the warmer days; the kind of garden you’re going to be working on will look great throughout the year and even be usable during winter. It takes a bit of experience to get it right on the first try, though. Be patient and give yourself some room to grow as a hobby gardener as well. Some plants may die on you, others will live – but you can always try again next year.

Here are a couple of tips to get you started on your gardening adventure as early as possible so that you can enjoy the sight of buzzing bees and blooming flowers as soon as spring is back.

Find the best spots in the garden.

Many hobby gardeners before you have made the mistake of simply focusing on the type of plants they want rather than understanding their own garden first. Don’t just head off to the nursery and buy something you think looks pretty; different plants need different soil, drainage, and amount of sun.

Consider your garden.

Try to find the spots that have the most sun. Make sure that you’re using the right kind of soil as well. Think about keeping your plants in pots to begin with, so that you can just plant them out when they’re a bit bigger and stronger.

Your garden should have areas of semi-sun as well. If you don’t, it’s always possible to put up a net for shading. Map out your garden, make a drawing if it makes it easier, and the end result will be so much more put-together.

Consider some accessories.

While a garden that is alive with plants, bird, and bees tend to be the main attraction, you should consider a few background actors as well. They won’t get as much attention as the wonderful plants when they’re in bloom, though, but it will contribute to the overall look of your garden.

A pond, for example, can be kept both during the winter and during the summer. And it’s not even that difficult to achieve! There are a ton of DIY ponds online to get you started; order a tsurumi pump right away to make sure you have everything you need and start digging.

Maybe add statues.

If a pond seems like too much work, you might want to consider a statue or two. We tend to associate them with landscaped gardens or those that are just a bit prettier than the average ones. So finding the perfect statue will kind of be like putting the cherry on top.

It doesn’t need to be maintained either and will make very little fuss. Have a look at these cute ones and you’ll be working on your garden throughout the day to make it fit together.

Working in the garden may be hard but the rewards definitely make it worth it. Consider growing your own vegetables when you have mapped everything out. And designate your own patch of kitchen plants in your new garden.