what's the best way to keep plants from dying?

not really enough information

is the soil good? do you fertilize? are the plants good for the place of your garden?

you need to first check the soil, and see if it is good or if it retains some kind of chemical or disease and needs to be 'cleaned' by removing some and adding new fresh dirt.

many plants need specific sunlight requirements.... make sure that you are selecting the correct plants for the area of your garden... also, if you have some plants that are there for a bit, then gone, they may just have a short season

make sure you water but don't keep it soaked.... sometimes either not enough water or too much water can kill a garden as well.

go to a local garden center and find some perennial plants (ones that will come back year after year) to get started on filling the garden. Have them help you select your plants specifically for your garden site/type

Before you purchase a plant (or put a seed into the soil):

1. Know the quality of your soil and its drainage capability. Poorly nourished soil will not reap a healthy garden.

2. Know the sun exposure the planting space receives

Too much or too little sun exposure will have an effect on everything you grow.

3. Know the water needs of the plant

Just like people, plants need water ~ even "drought resistant" plants need water.

4. Know your growing zone.

Perhaps you are trying to grow plants in your garden that are unsuitable for where you live.

Do a bit of research about the plants you want in your garden, stand back during various times of the day to examine the sun exposure your garden area(s) receive.

SSW: Soil, Sun, Water

If you are not under watering or over watering or using the wrong fertiliser for your soil type, your problem could lie in the soil, itself, or the levels of shade, termperature and light.

A gardener in my area recently had her house built and wanted to landscape the garden area herself but no matter how bullet proof the plants were they would just die in a certain spot (the focal part of the garden). Anyway, I was conned to go over and have a look (bribed with tea and chocolate cake). I dug a small test hole in the middle of this dead zone and found nothing out of the ordinary except for an unusual smell. Upon investigation I found that is was diesel/ engine oil. Whilst the builders were on site someone apparently serviced a vehicle and drained the sump resulting in a large area being neutralised.. seriously nothing would grow there. We had to dig out about ten cubes of soil and replace it with topsoil to get plants to grow there. What I am attempting to illustrate is that there are extraordinary circumstances that could be affecting your garden. Cement dust is another baddie. Test your soil it could be a chemical perhaps even the residual affect of a potent herbicide. I use a herbicide for alien eradication that can neutralise all growth where spilled for up to two years and on top of it all it can traslocate from one plant to another via the roots. There are also certain trees and shrubs that send out a growth inhibitor to prevent other plants from growing underneath it.

Hope this helps a bit.

I'm guessing that you are talking about a vegetable garden (?) and not sure where you live (?)

Tip One---Your soil---

Is it suitable for what you are growing ?? Meaning the composition of the soil. When that is determined then you can proceed.....

Make sure that you water. Do NOT over water or do NOT under water. The secret is a consistent watering.

Also fertilize every three weeks. I use Miracle Grow in the container that you attach to a garden hose.

i have found planing plants in semi shade or shady areas keeps them growing. no matter if they are suppose to be in full sun. keep them watered and they will grow great year after year.

Plant food, water, water,and water

water

need more information about what you are doing or not doing.