I am starting a new garden from nothing just flat dirt were do I start

You'll want to loosen the soil with a rototiller or pitchfork and add some manure and/or compost. Choose perennials for your climate and where the garden is (sun/shade). Sprinkle with Preen and add mulch. That should get you started!

You start by thinking of how you want it to look years from now. Things spread so you plant them exactly as they state on the tag. Gardening is a job and if you approach it as such you will loveit if you think it would be nice to have a garden like I did you will hate it and want to cement it all😠. Next I would have soil tested unless you can check out the gardens around your area and see what they have growing. I did that I walked around our new neighborhood and looked and spoke with gardener's and got great info. Plus some communities have clubs for gardeners and you can ask them questions as well. You need to know how much sun that spot gets as well as for how long so you buy appropriate plants. I'm glad that you at least know that you want the plants to come back because it is an investment to your property. You may also was to install a drip system so that water gets to plants roots not wasted on leaves and then just evaporates. Usually just going on pinterest you get great ideas for a garden just keep in mind that those took a long time to get to that state. Mostly people suggest tall plants in back and then shorter as they move forward or tall in center and shorter as they spread around in a circular pattern. For obvious reasons. Plus you generally want color throughout your growing season so you plant bulbs in fall for early spring and as they die out since you can't cut them down until they are completely brown you cover that ugly mess with some greenery or with the next wave of color early summer plants. But always try to add greenery so that you can have color and texture. Plus there are flowering shrubs that come every year and you just prune and reshape. Don't worry that you missed the spring bulb planting since that's generally done in the fall,you can incorporate that into your plan and leave room to plant them this fall. And go slow because not all things work and why blow money on a bunch of plants just to find out that they don't do well in your spot. It's more of a major love because you have got to love it to weed it everyday and to look for slugs and or aphids and use natural stuff to kill them please. And be careful cause some plants reseed and take over like Shasta daisy's and mint and cilantro. And the mint did not help with mosquitoes. Roses can be tricky I hear. We inherited a bunch of stuff but it was our first year and we didn't know what had been here. Live and learn. I stick to pots now and what comes back is great but I won't add one more thing.

start with improving you soil with a good bedding mix. Your garden center can help you. You can also buy a soil tester to find out the quality you have. You can get that at your garden center.

First, determine what zone you are in here:

http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/

Now design your garden and start! So exciting! 🌱

Here is how . . .

https://www.bhg.com/gardening/landscaping-projects/landscape-basics/three-year-landscape-plan/

http://www.diynetwork.com/how-to/outdoors/landscaping/the-essential-steps-to-landscape-design-pictures

https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-start-a-garden-from-scratch-2132778

Knowing what zone you are in will help you choose plants that will thrive in your climate. Also contact your local Ag Extension for great advice for your area.

The best way is to take a soil sample using an auger and send or take it to your area Agricultural Extension Service. They will have it analyzed for you and tell you any minerals or other things your soil may be lacking. They can also advise you as to how to add them.

Years ago, they would also lend you the auger and a box in which to place the sample and mail it off to the testing location. It did not take but a few days to receive an answer from them as to the results.

Here are 2 sites on which to locate your local extension service office:

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/extension-search/

http://pickyourown.org/countyextensionagentoffices.htm

They offer a great deal of other services for your area, in addition to soil testing. Even classes on various subjects to do with fencing, pasture makeup, barn or outbuilding options, etc. They can also advise regarding insect or varmint infestations and so many other things. They have free educational brochures too. They are definitely worth checking out.

If that is not an option for you, you should check with a local reputable nursery, to see if they are aware of your local soil makeup and conditions. I do know if you have a clay soil, you dig down three to four feet, add equal parts sand and peat moss to the clay, mix it completely and refill the hole with the combination. It will form a good fertile top soil in that way, that will be fertile for years to come, at least a decade.

As far as that will come back each year, shop for perennials at your local nursery. They can recommend different ones to suit your needs and whether you want ones that require more or less care, sun, shade, less water, etc.

You are very welcome.

Pot down to your Garden Centre or Plant outlet or bookshop or Newsagents to see if you can pick up a book on garden design and go from there. I have designed and build many new gardens and it all starts out with a plan of the site. MEASURE AND DRAW IT OUT ON GRAPH PAPER. That done, Make a list of items or features you would like your garden to contain bearing in mind those who will use it!. Mark on the map North, South, East and West. Those places facing South will be warmest and those facing North will be coldest etc. Cut out a shape to represent the features you want to include to scale and try placing them on the Plan. Juggle them about until you are happy, That is then your guide. Use stakes and string, or a Hose to help you lay out your garden. When you think it is right use a marker paint on the ground as your guide and start digging. Hope that helps.