Starting a successful garden begins with choosing the right land. Whether you're planning to start a garden in your backyard, or perusing land for sale to start a community garden, knowing what makes good ground and what doesn't can be difficult. If you aren't quite sure what type of land is best for your garden, check out these tips to get a starting point and learn the basics of choosing the perfect location for your new plants!

Check the Surface: You can learn a lot just from judging a plot of land by its soil. If you do not own the land, be sure to obtain permission from the landowner before treading on their grounds. Feel the soil and give it a look. Loose, dark soil is best for growing all types of plants and also good for proper drainage. Basic home soil tests can also give you a feel for the land and what amendments it might need before it's ready for gardening.

Preparing an upcoming move is a lot of work. Between hiring a mover, packing your whole house, buying and selling a home and getting settled in a new town, you already have plenty to keep you busy.

However, if you're planning on moving your garden or houseplants along with you, you'll need to get an early start on the process.

1. Preparation and Planning: The earlier you start, the easier your plant move will be. For outdoor plants, you'll want to begin several months or even a year before the move. Begin by digging a six-inch wide by 12-inch deep trench around the base of the plant. You'll want to dig around the root ball, which is usually about an 18-inch diameter, but can vary depending on the plant. Dig the trench by slicing cleanly through the roots with a sharp shovel. Fill the trench halfway with compost or shredded leaves, which helps the plant create a high volume of roots in a concentrated area. This built up store of roots will help the plant stay strong for the move and will make up for roots that are lost during the trenching. If roots began to grow into the root ball, slice through them with the shovel. When the time comes to move, you'll have a strong plant that's ready to be dug up and replanted elsewhere.