Garden design can be a ton of fun if you give yourself some time and think it through. Here are some practical things to think about when planning a garden and before you sow your seeds. I can’t think of anything better to dream about in the off-season than dirt between my fingers and the sweet sound of sprinklers clicking away.
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
Speaking of sprinklers, one of the first things to do if this is your first garden design is to pick the right spot. You will want to be sure that there is a good water source nearby. We live on the river and my handy husband rigged up a pretty sweet pumping system to water the garden. If you are near a pond, even lugging a bucket of pond water once a week or so will not only water your garden but add a plethora of nutrients as well.
It’s also a good idea to watch how the sun casts shadows throughout the day. If you are designing your garden in the winter months, keep in mind that the sun is lower in the sky in the northern hemisphere. (No wonder it’s so cold!) But you will be able to get a general idea of the amount of sunshine different areas of your yard get each day.
ADDITIONAL DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
You might also want to check out your soil type. For example, if you are on sandy soil, you may want to consider having black dirt hauled in when the temps start to moderate ~ unless you are a potato grower. 😊 We are fortunate enough to have a wonderful loam that holds a good amount of moisture, but also drains the perfect amount. Along those lines, make sure you take drainage into account. If you are on hard clay, you may want black dirt as well because if your soil retains too much moisture, your roots will rot, and the plant will become moldy and probably die.
If you are reading this and think to yourself that you cannot come up with a great spot in your yard, don’t despair. They make some pretty sweet raised garden beds nowadays! If you not only want your garden to be functional, but aesthetic as well, raised gardens are a great option. They also make it tougher for pests to demolish your plants, they are easier on your back, and they keep weeds from the pathways from creeping in and choking out your plants.
DRAW UP YOUR GARDEN DESIGN!
Now is a great time to grab some graph paper (or if you’re nerdy like me, an Excel spreadsheet) and start sketching it out! I like each square on my graph paper to represent a square foot in my garden. If you’re using Excel, I like to make each cell a square instead of a rectangle. As you sketch your garden design, remember that your plants will grow quite a bit (hopefully!) throughout the season. Also make sure you leave a nice walkway if your space allows. I’ve made the mistake in the past of cramming too much in, and I find myself precariously trying to step over plants in the middle of harvest season. While it’s a great leg workout, one misstep and you can say goodbye to a plant that you’ve worked hard to grow all season!
You also want to think about how your plants will grow. For example, strawberries are better to grow in a plot rather than a row. Also, a lot of plants like to creep along the ground, such as squash, watermelon and cantaloupe.
WHAT SHOULD I GROW?
I think a better question would be, what do you like to eat? Unless your garden is purely for aesthetic reasons or to give away, it only makes sense to grow what you will enjoy eating! There are certain plants that do well in different climates, so it is good to know your zone. If you do not know what zone you live in, click here.
Most seeds list their growing zones on the back of the packet. It’s also a good idea to buy your seeds early. If you need a little guidance in selecting your seeds, check out our Ultimate Guide to Buying Garden Seeds. Gardening and canning have become quite popular in the last few years, and seeds sell out fast. This also means that canning shelves are cleared out just when you need them. Although they typically aren’t on sale in the off-season, sales don’t do you any good if the supplies aren’t available when you need them. 😊 If you are an experienced gardener, you may want to consider rotating to a different crop in each area, as different plants pull different nutrients from the soil.
As you are thinking of buying seeds and canning supplies in advance, consider buying any fencing, netting, sprinklers and pest control devices before the season begins. Speaking from experience, a deer or rabbit can wipe out a large section of your garden in a single night!
If you are looking for a garden design plan that keeps you on track throughout the season and makes gardening mindless, be sure to check this out!
ONE LAST CONSIDERATION…
Keep in mind that you want it to be a place where you want to spend time. The quality of your plants is more important than quantity. If it becomes too overwhelming, you may abandon it mid-season. Also, as previously mentioned, you will find that it is hard to get around. Plants will also begin to choke each other out, and you need good airflow around the stems so they don’t rot. Gardens provide good exercise and great eating, so taking time to plan it out is well worth it!
Start dreaming up your perfect garden design!
Leah