Get your garden growing with some basic tools Your lawn could be decorated with a beautiful fence and flowers - using a few basic items. April showers bring May flowers," the adage goes. However, when it comes to gardening - a pastime that lasts year-round - showers alone don't cut it. In order to have a lush and vibrant garden harvest of flowers, vegetables, herbs and spices - not to mention a healthy lawn adorned with bustling leafy trees and well-kept hedges - you'll have to get working on your greens. Whether your garden spans acres of land, a few yards or merely the length of your urban apartment's window box, that plot of land requires special care and attention. But before you begin imagining the solace of tending your garden under the sun while the warm rays massage your shoulders and back, or the thrill of picking the season's first harvest, you need to consider a few basic items that will help you sow the seeds for a successful garden. Tools - You may have a "green thumb," but usually it takes a tool in hand to make it useful. Some basic tools every gardener should own include gardening gloves, a hand fork and trowel, pruners, a spade, fork and hoe, a watering can and hose, wheelbarrow, lawn mower and rake. Soil - More often than not, what your garden yields is only as good as the soil it grows from, so healthy soil should be every gardener's top priority. A good way to start is by digging into and turning over the soil. This increases the amount of air spaces in the soil and encourages plant growth. Clearing away weeds and debris is also important, and when necessary, weedkiller and fertilizer can remedy problem soil conditions. Bulbs and seeds - Before you select the bulbs or seeds you'd like to plant, consider what kind of climate is most suitable for what you're planting. Consider the maximum growth the plant will achieve, how it will thrive in your specific soil conditions, and what kind of aesthetic appeal it might contribute in relation to the other plants or trees you're planning to grow. Trees, shrubs and flowers - In addition to new bulbs and seeds, you need to make time for the plants you've already grown. Pruning trees and shrubs encourages them to flower and grow, while keeping them manageable and neat. Flowers, specifically roses, annuals and some perennials, benefit from deadheading - removing dead flower heads to encourage new buds. Lawn - Mowing the lawn makes grass more dense and less susceptible to weeds. Grass grows most rapidly during mild or cool weather, especially when the ground is moist, so you'll have to mow more frequently in the spring and fall to keep a well-tended lawn. In summer, or when the weather is warm and dry, mow less frequently and set the mower blades higher. Borders, fences and hedges - From elaborate landscaping to creative boundaries to shading to just plain privacy, the reasons for creating borders, raising fences or planting hedges are many. A border of flowers or plants can lend a personalized, artistic mark to a garden. Fences, which range from sturdy constructions to lighter-weight trellises, can provide an effective screen as well as an ideal place to plant climbers, hedges or various vines. Gardening is year-round, yet rewarding work. The more you tend your garden, the more responsive it will be. So get your tools ready and "plot" your agenda - you'll soon be reaping the ripe rewards of a healthy, well-kept garden.