10. Good Soil is half the battle.

9. Most of having a "Green Thumb" is paying attention. Do your plants look happy? Remember that small amounts of more frequent care are better than large doses of care.

8. Pamper new plants. Then leave them to the Darwinian survival of the fittest. Unless of course the plant has special attributes such as a special textured rose, outstanding colored perennial, superbly scented shrub, a tree with fantastic bark, etc. Then you have permission to pamper them indefinitely.

7. Give extra care to trees and shrubs when planting and during the first year or two. They will reward you many times over.

6. What do you like? Gardening tastes are as varied as the personalities of people. Learn from others, but then follow your own path.

5. Develop a vision for your garden. You don’t need to draw it out on graph paper, but it helps to know which direction you’re going.

4. Get the right plants. Hardier, more pest-resistant versions of popular species are introduced every year.

3. Locate your plants where they will be happy.

2. Remember that Mother Nature has a way of improvising our best thought out plans.

1. Have Fun. Gardening is inherently enjoyable. But only if you don’t take it too seriously.