While I don’t consider myself a green thumb, I do enjoy gardening. It’s such a calming, meditative and satisfying activity. I remember watching and “helping” my mom in the garden as a kid. It is so fascinating and exciting to see the time she spends every day in this hobby. I didn’t know much about it back then, but now that I have a home with a beautiful pre-built garden, I’ve learned about the delightful art of gardening. In our busy lives these days, there are not many opportunities for us to indulge in such a fulfilling, calming and meditative practice.
You don’t need to be an expert to have a garden, and tending and caring for it has many wonderful benefits. Not only can you enjoy the fruits of your labor with beautiful flowers, fruits, vegetables, and herbs throughout the seasons, but outdoor time can be very beneficial for your mind, body, and soul. Whether you’re just starting out or adding to an existing garden, here are some helpful garden planning tips.
11 Tips for Garden Planning
Schedule time for your planting/planning
There are two options for garden planning and planting, spring or fall. First, you can assess what has been established (if any), then plan and plant (spring or fall) the bulbs that will emerge in the weeks and months to come. It’s amazing when you think about it. If you’re eager to start this spring (like me), it’s going to be a great time, with an entire season waiting for you. You can buy spring bulbs and start them indoors, or plant them directly in the ground after you know any chance of frost is gone.Check out Jess’s guide what to plant in may and summer.
Consider your climate
The most important thing to consider when planning and building your garden is your climate. A New England garden will be very different from a tropical or desert climate garden. Make sure to do some research to determine which flowers and other plants will thrive in your climate. Use this plant hardiness zone map tool to get you started. Another tip I found helpful is to start paying attention to the gardens around you as you drive around and around the area. What type of garden do you like? Which flower seems to be the healthiest and best for your area? Which flowers go well together?
Sunlight
Consider the sun exposure in your garden. Shady gardens are mostly covered in trees, or your house or other structure may block direct sunlight for most of the day. This garden needs plants that thrive in little direct sunlight. Some sun gardens only receive 4-6 hours of sunlight per day. Therefore, choosing plants that require partial sun is best for this garden type. The sunny garden is exposed to the sun all day long. When choosing plants, check the solarization guidelines and choose plants accordingly.
choose a good location
If your garden is undeveloped, this presents a great opportunity to choose the perfect location for your garden. Make sure your garden is not in a high traffic area. You want people to be able to see and appreciate your gardens without having to walk through them. Check for things like healthy soil and decide if you want to incorporate raised beds. Using fertilizer and mulch to keep plants happy and healthy is also very helpful. Decide what type of garden you want or which is best for your location (shade, partial sun, or full sun), and then you can pick the plants that grow best in that location.
Choose your color palette
Whenever I’m in a new place, I love admiring each home’s unique garden. I think you can see everyone’s personality in their garden style. Consider which type of garden is best for you. Do you prefer a pristine, classic white garden, or do you prefer a wild, colourful Irish garden? Once you’ve considered your style, you can choose plants that not only suit the sun and climate, but also make you happy and feel at home.
Plants bloom all season
What we’re doing in our own garden this season is making it pop all season long. When we moved into our house 3 years ago, we were lucky to have a beautiful prefab garden. After living here for a few seasons, we noticed that the beautiful spring blooms in our garden started to fade with the seasons. This spring, we plan to introduce some new plants to complement the existing facility and create beautiful blooms throughout the spring, summer and fall.
keep it small
If you’re new to gardening, start small. The joy of gardening is that you can add and/or modify your garden every year. nothing is forever! It’s much easier to manage if you start small, and you can avoid feeling overwhelmed while enjoying every beautiful flower!
grow what you love
Planting a garden is a great opportunity for you to explore your favorite things. Don’t feel like your garden needs to match the houses around you. Pick your favorite flowers that best suit each other. The same goes for growing food. If you hate eggplants, there is no need to grow them in your garden. If you’re having trouble discovering your tastes, call a gardening expert to help you get started!this is a great post what to plant in may and a Summer Planting Guide.
Keep tools simple
There are many gardening tools, but most of the time you can make it pretty easy. I find gardening gloves, rakes, pruning shears/mowers, trowels, forks, watering cans and boots to be my most used items. Start with a few and you can always add to your collection as needed. Here are some of Jess’s favorite garden tools.
Provide ample space for plants to grow
Sometimes we get a little ambitious and want to be big. Make sure to leave enough space for each plant. When you buy bulbs/plants, there are instructions on how much space they need to grow. Pay special attention to this and do some research to make sure you don’t plant flowers/plants too close together. For example, certain vegetables, squash, and cucumbers can take up a lot of space and end up taking over an entire garden.
Create a budget
Gardening can get expensive. Create a budget for yourself to avoid spending too much or wasting money on things you end up not needing or using. Prioritize the garden items you want and need, then see what else you can spend on additional items. Make a list of items such as bulbs/plants, tools, fertilizer/mulch, and the cost of each. Total to make sure this is within your budget, then you can cut or add content as necessary.
The garden is like a masterpiece. Take the time to plan in a way that works for you. Bring your own personality into your garden and have fun with it. If you make a mistake and fail… that’s okay! Sometimes things in the garden just don’t work out. Learn from that experience. Gardening is an evolving art and there are always new opportunities to try again. Gardening provides a fantastic opportunity to enjoy the outdoors and get our hands dirty. Pay attention to the pollinators and birds your garden attracts, and watch the beautiful stages of each flower.
Are you planning your garden right now? What are you planting that excites you this spring and summer? Let us know in the comments below!
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