Step #1: Choose your spot.

Most garden plants need lots of sunshine, so choose a sunny spot for your garden to grow. You also want a place that is easily reachable for watering. Once you've decided where your garden is going, steak it out in the shape you want it and give it a defined border.

Step #2: Cut it out.

If the spot you have chosen for your garden is currently occupied you'll have to clear it. Remove other growth such as grass, weeds, or bushes being sure to get rid of it all so you don't have to deal with as much weeds later on. You want to start planting in soil that is completely exposed, so getting rid of the old growth is important.

Step #3: Soak it.

The next step is to make sure your soil has adequate moisture that you'll seal in with a later step. Wet the soil of your plot thoroughly. This will also help you work the ground more easily in the next step.

Step #4: Dig it up.

Once your soil is exposed and moist, dig it up and loosen it. This can be done with a rototiller or by hand. Work the soil down about a foot. You can place excess soil on a tarp as you work down to make it easier and for use at a later step. During this step, break up all large clods and remove rocks and debris from the soil.

Step #5: Mulch it.

Work in an organic mulch and/or fertilizer to the remaining loose soil in your plot. This will help seal in the moisture you added in step three. Make sure the mulch and soil are well mixed as the mulch and fertilizer contains the nutrients needed to grow the best food in your garden. It can be mixed in with a shovel and garden fork. Make sure the mulch and soil mix doesn't have clods. Break up the soil again and remove any remaining stones.

Step #6: Layer it.

Once the mulch is mixed into the soil well, take the excess soil you had on the tarp and spread it back over your garden in a level layer. Smooth the plot with a rake and make sure it is clod-free.

Step #7: Form rows.

Once your plot is smooth, you're going to rough it up a little. Form rows in the soil with troughs three to four inches deep in between so you can reach the deep roots more easily when watering your plants. Now you are ready for planting.

Step #8: Planting:

Plant your seeds or starts on the top of the rows. Keep your garden organized so when your plants start to come up you'll be able to tell what is supposed to be there and what is not (a.k.a. weeds). You can also consider planting a warding flower like marigolds around the border of your garden. Marigolds are known for keeping aphids and other pests away from growing plants, so they are a wholesome as well as colorful addition to your garden.