Gardening is a great hobby, whether the goal is to grow beautiful flowers, provide healthy vegetables and fruits for family consumption, cultivate medicinal herbs and plants, or to provide other enjoyment as a healthy stress relief outlet. Many hobby gardeners start out with a small plot of growing space, such as their backyard or even a windowsill.

The start-up cost of hobby gardening is very low, and it is one of the least expensive outdoor activities around. All you really need to get started is a patch of soil, some seeds , and water. This represents a tiny gardening plot yet is a perfect way to start learning and improving your basic gardening skills, and is the way most ‘master gardeners’ got their start.

While gardening is considered a labor-intensive hobby, there are a few basic tools and supplies needed. On average, the beginning backyard gardener should expect to spend less that $100 to get started. The starting-out shopping list includes a hand shovel, spade, small rake, watering can and hose, seeds or cuttings, a plot of soil, and a compost pile.
Many other gardening gadgets and manuals, as well as seeds and cuttings, are available, depending on the type and scope of the garden being planned.

The only limitation to hobby gardening is in the gardener’s personal choice as to what is grown. Some choose to grow only fragrant ornamental flowers, while others grow vegetables to reduce the family food bill. The one thing all gardens have in common is the time and patience required to successfully grow anything.