Garden Planning in Three Simple Steps

Garden planning looks more difficult than it is. We all want to be surrounded by beauty, fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs. To renew the spirit through simple, constructive work where the rewards are tangible.

What’s stopping you? A little voice probably tells you it is expensive, time consuming, messy and complicated.

We provide you with a road map to help you build a garden environment nearly anywhere, indoors or out. And to do it within your monetary and time budgets. Use a simple three step process that will have you well on your way. And you don’t even have to share your tomatoes with us!

Organize Your Ideas

Use the garden planning form to help you organize. First, rank your gardening objectives in order of priority, with 1 as your top. Then, within each priority, rank again. For example, if creating color is your top objective, then list your favorite colors in order of preference. If your second priority is growing food, rank your favorite vegetables, fruits and herbs.

Then quantify and qualify your physical constraints. For example, how much sunshine does your property receive and of what quality (full sun, partial shade, all shade)? In what climate zone do you live? What type of soil are you working with (clay, silt, sandy or a mixture)and what is its pH? What is the drainage like in your proposed area? What are common garden pests to consider?

Finally, honestly commit to some minimum time you will devote to your goal every week. You do not have to commit much money to begin, as you can often use what is already around your home or available for free, such as unwanted pots or seed trays from a nursery, and borrowed tools. Use seeds rather than starter plants. Start with an easy project such as a compost bin or windowsill basic herb garden, and be immediately successful!

With page one of the form completed, you are ready to make some choices and get started. When doing this, follow the KISS method-- keep it simple!

Create a Plan of Action

Now, using page two of the form, choose your first project. If it is rather large, break it into manageable stages, such as tilling or site preparation, then fencing or other anti-pest measures, then planting.

For each project or stage, write out the needed materials and estimate a time you can devote to each stage. Your climate zone will dictate the most successful plant choices, whether flowers, vegetables, herbs, fruits, shrubs trees or vines.

The USDA North American plant hardiness zone map has limitations in two respects. First, it cannot account for micro-climates; that is, the variations in local growing conditions caused by your garden's compass exposure, wind, a nearby large body of water, elevation, or daily sun exposure. A plant that should do well in Zone 6a may do poorly because you live in a shady hollow. Think about these factors when selecting plants, as the USDA map is based on lowest winter temperatures and its survival then.

Second, it is not as reliable a garden planning reference in North America west of the 100th meridian - a north-south line running between Manitoba and Saskatchewan and Laredo, Texas. The definitive climate zone guide for the western U.S. is published by Sunset Magazine.

Compare what you want visually and seasonally with the physical tolerance and needs of each plant species. You may want a giant redwood in your desert environment, but it is not likely to succeed. A little garden planning can prevent much backache and frustration down the road.

Move from the general to the specific. Start your garden planning with an overall sketch of your property. Then draw a specific specific plan for each area you have decided to plant.

To come within your monetary and time budget, try different arrangements, always using your ranked priority list as a guide.

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