Garden Planning

You are about to begin a time honored ritual for every gardener. Twice a day, morning and evening, and once at night, fix yourself a glass of tea or a cup of coffee. With a writing pad and pencil in the other hand, go outside, weather permitting. Grab a lawn chair (now your hands are really full) and find the one spot where you can see nearly the entire backyard. Get comfortable, take a sip and look around. What do you see?

1. A landscaped yard. Even an existing landscape can be personalized.
2. A rough outback. You'll need tools to clear out unwanted aspects.
3. The neighbors trash, car, yard. What can you do about it? Put up a fence, wooden, metal or live. Check for neighborhood restrictions. You may want a fence for your own privacy.
4. Another large room to decorate. Go for it!

Hold on. It is time to draw your first diagram including:
1. Your property lines.
2. Indicate any large trees in your yard or in your neighbors' yards that cast shade in your yard.
3. Which areas are in sun and which are in shade.
4. In what direction does the ground slope? We are talking drainage here.
5. Determine East, South, West and North.
The sun rises in the East and sets in the West.
No compass? Go out at night and find the Big Dipper in the night sky. Just to the right on a line extending from the top of the Dipper, you'll find the North star.
6. Is there a deck or are you planning to add one or redo the existing deck?

Take another sip of your drink and consider, "For what purpose is this yard to be used?"
A few things to consider: dining out, lounging, gardening, sunbathing, games, a play area for the children.
1. Do these areas need to be close to the house or farther out in the yard?
2. Is there access to electricity, water, entrance and exit?
3. And now for the best part: Where do I place my garden workbench, tools, pots, compost pile, lawn mower, mulcher, water garden?
4. Do I want a formal or a cottage garden?
5. Now decide where you want gardening beds and pathways. Pathways need to be large enough for a wheelbarrow or two persons who, strolling hand-in-hand through your garden, may walk with ease.
6. Make a list of tools you'll need.

Turning fork
Shovel
Rakes - 1 garden, 1 leaf
Wheelbarrow or garden cart
Weeder
Small hand tools
Find tools that fit your size and feel good in your hands. Keep them clean and sharp and they will serve you well.

Is your soil primarily clay, sandy or good humusy loam (the best kind)? Test the soil in different areas of your yard. Purchase a testing kit or take samples to the Agricultural Extension Agency in your area. Once you have the results, it is time to peruse all those home and garden magazines you've been saving just for this moment. Make your decisions regarding flowers, shrubs, vegetables and herbs to plant. Create a landscape plan according to pH (acidity or alkalinity needs of the plants) and sun and shade. Decide what work you can do yourself and which items you'll need someone else to complete.

Once you've gotten this far and you're satisfied with your notes and diagram, it's a good idea to copy them into a gardening journal. Especially, to record what you planted where. This will make it easier to determine any changes at springtime before perennials (plants that continue to live from year to year) appear or previously planted bulbs sprout.

Congratulations! The hard part is done. Now we get to the best part - gardening!

DIGGING burns the fat and releases some of that coffee energy!

If you have a large area to dig, you can buy or rent a tiller to help you do the work. Creating gardening beds one at a time can be accomplished with hand tools.

After digging the area, breaking up any large clumps, add compost and manure for fertilization and rake it into the soil. If you do this in the fall, by spring planting time all you'll need to do is turn the soil. Otherwise, let the beds and yourself rest for a few days and use this time to order your seed and plants from online suppliers. They'll be delivered right to your door. Also consider an irrigation system for your garden that when properly placed only requires a turn of the faucet or an automatic timer.

Assigning a separate area for a vegetable garden is up to you. Flowers, herbs and vegetables can be interplanted as long as you provide space for full growth and group plants as to soil, moisture and light requirements. Click here to learn more about Companion Planting.

Click here to learn how to Create A Garden Path and also review our latest question and answer on planning and paths.


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	Garden Planning Gardening is one of the most pleasant human endeavors on this planet. Plenty of fresh air, exercise, nurturing, creativity, beauty and bounty all come into play here. Yet these are only a few of the benefits received in return for the work involved. Let's get started: • How would you change your garden or plan a brand new area? • Perhaps your soil needs amending for better growth. • What type of soil do your choices of plants prefer? • Think about color, background and trellis needs. • Which areas need cleaning out to prevent unwelcome beasties? • Decide the perfect spot for a water garden. • Which plants would grow better in another part of the garden? • How about a shade garden? • Composting. Plan to recycle yard waste. WHERE TO BEGIN You are about to begin a time honored ritual for every gardener. Twice a day, morning and evening, and once at night, fix yourself a glass of tea or a cup of coffee. With a writing pad and pencil in the other hand, go outside, weather permitting. Grab a lawn chair (now your hands are really full) and find the one spot where you can see nearly the entire backyard. Get comfortable, take a sip and look around. What do you see? 1. A landscaped yard. Even an existing landscape can be personalized. 2. A rough outback. You'll need tools to clear out unwanted aspects. 3. The neighbors trash, car, yard. What can you do about it? Put up a fence, wooden, metal or live. Check for neighborhood restrictions. You may want a fence for your own privacy. 4. Another large room to decorate. Go for it! Hold on. It is time to draw your first diagram including: 1. Your property lines. 2. Indicate any large trees in your yard or in your neighbors' yards that cast shade in your yard. 3. Which areas are in sun and which are in shade. 4. In what direction does the ground slope? We are talking drainage here. 5. Determine East, South, West and North. The sun rises in the East and sets in the West. No compass? Go out at night and find the Big Dipper in the night sky. Just to the right on a line extending from the top of the Dipper, you'll find the North star. 6. Is there a deck or are you planning to add one or redo the existing deck? Take another sip of your drink and consider, "For what purpose is this yard to be used?" A few things to consider: dining out, lounging, gardening, sunbathing, games, a play area for the children. 1. Do these areas need to be close to the house or farther out in the yard? 2. Is there access to electricity, water, entrance and exit? 3. And now for the best part: Where do I place my garden workbench, tools, pots, compost pile, lawn mower, mulcher, water garden? 4. Do I want a formal or a cottage garden? 5. Now decide where you want gardening beds and pathways. Pathways need to be large enough for a wheelbarrow or two persons who, strolling hand-in-hand through your garden, may walk with ease. 6. Make a list of tools you'll need. Turning fork Shovel Rakes - 1 garden, 1 leaf Wheelbarrow or garden cart Weeder Small hand tools Find tools that fit your size and feel good in your hands. Keep them clean and sharp and they will serve you well. Is your soil primarily clay, sandy or good humusy loam (the best kind)? Test the soil in different areas of your yard. Purchase a testing kit or take samples to the Agricultural Extension Agency in your area. Once you have the results, it is time to peruse all those home and garden magazines you've been saving just for this moment. Make your decisions regarding flowers, shrubs, vegetables and herbs to plant. Create a landscape plan according to pH (acidity or alkalinity needs of the plants) and sun and shade. Decide what work you can do yourself and which items you'll need someone else to complete. Once you've gotten this far and you're satisfied with your notes and diagram, it's a good idea to copy them into a gardening journal. Especially, to record what you planted where. This will make it easier to determine any changes at springtime before perennials (plants that continue to live from year to year) appear or previously planted bulbs sprout. Congratulations! The hard part is done. Now we get to the best part - gardening! DIGGING burns the fat and releases some of that coffee energy! If you have a large area to dig, you can buy or rent a tiller to help you do the work. Creating gardening beds one at a time can be accomplished with hand tools. After digging the area, breaking up any large clumps, add compost and manure for fertilization and rake it into the soil. If you do this in the fall, by spring planting time all you'll need to do is turn the soil. Otherwise, let the beds and yourself rest for a few days and use this time to order your seed and plants from online suppliers. They'll be delivered right to your door. Also consider an irrigation system for your garden that when properly placed only requires a turn of the faucet or an automatic timer. Assigning a separate area for a vegetable garden is up to you. Flowers, herbs and vegetables can be interplanted as long as you provide space for full growth and group plants as to soil, moisture and light requirements. Click here to learn more about Companion Planting. Click here to learn how to Create A Garden Path and also review our latest question and answer on planning and paths.