I know nothing about plants and need help

Question

I’m moving into a first floor apartment with a little backyard in a month. It’s currently just a patch of grass with nothing whatsoever there. I want to make a flower/edible garden out of it. I want to start planting right away because it will be early summer and I want things to start growing by the end of the summer. The problem is, I don’t know how to upheave grass, make plots, I don’t know which plants are low care, which plants work with the kind of generic east coast soil, with solid amount of sunlight. I don’t even know if they have a hose or if I need to buy one! Can you offer me all your knowledge for this project of mine? Thanks in advance!!

Answer 1

Before you start make sure you have access to water. If there is not a water spigot outside for you to hook up a hose you will have to carry water out to the garden. You can spray the grass with weed and grass killer (glyphosate) since you are in a hurry. Then break it up a bit with a pitchfork and add some compost to improve the soil. Plant and mulch heavily. You also can try sheet mulching if you want to avoid chemicals. A raised bed is also an option. Instructions below. I also am including info for flowers that work in your zone. Have fun!

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/special/starting/how-to-build-a-flower-bed-starting-a-flower-bed-from-scratch.htm

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/special/starting/cinder-block-garden-beds.htm

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/sheet-mulching-in-gardens.htm

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/compost-as-soil-amendment.htm

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/weeds/how-to-kill-grass-naturally-kill-unwanted-grass-in-your-yard.htm

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/vgen/raised-vegetable-gardens.htm

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/vgen/raised-bed-soil-depth.htm

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/gardening-by-zone/zone-7/growing-flowers-in-zone-7.htm

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/gardening-by-zone/zone-7/planting-gardens-in-zone-7.htm