Spring is finally here! It's time to ditch your winter boots for Wellies, swap your parka for your poncho and, best of all, start planning and preparing your garden for summer.

No matter which type you're tending -- small garden, large garden, edible garden, flower garden, rock garden -- Homemakers.com has tips on how to grow a fantastic spread.

Great gardening tips: be prepared
Before you get started on your garden design or with planting, make sure you have all the proper tools and your yard and soil are ready for plants. Get your garden ready for spring by following our simple checklist of must-dos.

It's also important -- particularly if you're starting a garden at a new home or digging out some land that hasn't been used for gardening before -- to be aware of poisonous plants. If you can't recognize some common stingers, you could be in trouble!

Even if you don't encounter any unfriendly plants, your body can still pay a price for a full day down on your hands and knees. Stretch to keep your body from tensing up after a great day of gardening.

Great gardening tips: vegetable gardens
You can't eat much more locally than from your own backyard! If you don't have space for a small plot of land for a garden, you can still grow a cornucopia of delicious foods.

Successful container crops can sometimes be challenging because pots might not retain water as well as a full-fledged garden does, so be sure your pots are ready to feed what you seed.

Great gardening tips: herb gardens
Many herbs start to lose flavour once they have gone to seed, so it's important to keep on top of them all season long, regularly clipping and using them. If you have more herbs than you know what to do with, you can preserve your herbs for use later, or for lovely homemade gifts.

Great gardening tips: beautiful yard
Adding garden furniture to your yard makes it more livable and comfortable. For a tranquil atmosphere, you might consider adding a water feature to your garden -- anything from a small fountain to a full-out pond with fish.