Gardening - Schertz,TX

Depending on where you live, it's not too late to start. There are lots of fall, flowers & vegetables to grow in many climates. Here in southern NM, pansies, violas, snapdragons, some lettuce, spinach among many other things grow in the fall.

I would also suggest if you have never grown a garden, to start in a small area and grow from there. For instance I have five acres, but we just moved here and it is desert, I am doing one section at a time. I started with about a 15'x 15' area.

Find a local garden center, preferably not a chain, and go in and see what they have and ask questions. Most of them are great, sell quality plants, know the soil conditions and what grows in the area. They might cost you a little more, but in the long run it will save you money since you won't spend money on things that aren't going to live in your area. Stores like Walmart and Home Depot often sell things that aren't suited for the local climate.

Don't worry have fun, and just try something! My kids love it.

Well, depending on the garden...I would buy top soil and mix it in to the soil there with a metal rake. If y'all want to plant flowers I would go to a gardening center and buy the ones you want then gently pull them out of their packaging and put them in about a two inch deep hole (you want to make sure the roots are deep enough and that the flower will not topple). You also want to buy them for the area you are planting, say shady or sunny. Cover the roots with the soil and water, water, water. Water in the morning and in the evening if they are in the sun(that way they won't burn). ALWAYS KEEP WATERED! I wouldn't water too late in the evening though b/c of mold. As for vegetables I would buy them already started and do the same as with the flowers... Hope that helps a little.
B.

What kind of garden? Mostly you will need to wait for spring to start one. When the last threat of freeze is over. Then you select your area, if you have a rototiller, that helps a lot. Make your rows, then plant according to the directions on the back. You will have to think of sun and shade, with what you want to plant. Water and keep the weeds at bay.

First figure out how much area you are dealing with buy top soil and mix it in to the soil there with a metal rake, rent an aerator from a tool rental http://www.compactpowercenter.com and aerate your lawn and then over-seed it with grass seeds, water it daily and see the results... don't forget to mow after the third week of seeding.

I do permanent raised beds that I made with untreated 2x10" lumber. http://extension.missouri.edu/explore/agguides/hort/g0698...

Depending on what kind of garden you're doing (vegetable, flower), there are crops that you can plant year round - I'm getting ready for winter squash, lettuce, turnip greens, etc.