Start off small-The easiest way to want to give up gardening is to start with to much. Keep in mind that size is relative, but you should only plant the area that you think you can reasonably take care of. This is important since small gardens are easy to manage, and by starting on a small scale, you'll quickly learn gardening basics. These include such things as: weed control, pest and disease control, and watering requirements, without being overwhelmed. As you develop more confidence and skills, you can then expand the area, or create a new garden bed elsewhere.

Work to maintain healthy soil-You should try to avoid walking on the soil in established gardens, because every step compacts the soil, and compaction makes it difficult for roots to grow. You should create paths between rows or in beds, or you can place a board on the soil adjacent to areas where you work in order to distribute your weight, more evenly over the soil. You should also avoid working the soil when it's wet. Otherwise, once it dries, you'll wind up with big clumps of hard-packed soil. Most importantly don't overwork the soil. Keep in mind that good soil isn't powdery; it's a mixed bag of particles of varying sizes and shapes.

Use mulch-This is important since mulch suppresses weed growth, maintains soil moisture, and stabilizes soil temperatures. Expert gardeners recommend mulching everything in sight with whatever organic mulch you like.

Always water properly-You should not water frequently, for only brief periods of time. This causes plant roots to hover near the soil surface. Instead, you should deep soak each time you water, to encourage roots to grow deep down into the soil. You should also, water early in the morning, so plant leaves have a chance to dry during the day. That will also help minimize fungal diseases.

Use native plants-There is no getting around the fact that native plants tend to be easier to grow, have fewer pest and disease problems and require less supplemental watering. Keep in mind that if you grow a lot of native plants, you'll develop more confidence with fewer hassles. To learn more about native versus non-native plants in your area, visit your favorite nursery or contact your local master gardeners' group.

Minimize maintenance-There are two suggestions that experienced gardeners offer to simplify your gardening. These are:
1. Cut back on fertilizers
2. Prune only when necessary
This is because fertilizing and pruning cause plants to produce tender, succulent growth, which is what bugs prefer most. The bottom line is that plants should not be forced to grow faster than their normal growth rate, or they should not be pruned in some fashion other than the way nature intended them to grow. Just do yourself a favor and follow these steps.

Visit your garden regularly-There is no need to feel overwhelmed by the time constraints of gardening. If you'll spend just 10 minutes a day wandering around your lawn and garden, you'll form an invaluable bond with everything that grows. And while doing this, you might stop and pull a few weeds, spot a plant in need of water, realize that slugs or aphids are on the move, and so on. The bottom line is that by dealing with those little things each day, you won't be so overwhelmed by the time the weekend rolls around. In fact, you may discover that by tending to your garden daily but briefly, you'll have time for alternative weekend activities.