Okay, planning a garden is SO fun and rewarding but also daunting. Let's talk about your garden and how to maybe approach planning your space.
- Determine your gardening goals for the season! What do you want to achieve with your garden? Do you want to grow your own vegetables or herbs, create a peaceful outdoor oasis, or attract wildlife to your yard?
- Assess your space: Take a look at the area you have available for gardening. How much sun does it receive, and what is the soil like? These factors can affect the types of plants that will thrive in your garden in addition to what zone your in.
- Choose your plants: Based on your gardening goals and the conditions in your space, select the plants you want to grow. Make sure to choose plants that are appropriate for your climate/zone and will be able to thrive in your garden's conditions.
- Make a plan: Create a plan for where each plant will go in your garden. Consider factors such as how much space each plant needs, and whether they need to be planted in full sun or partial shade. Personally, for a first time grower, I would skip anything to do with companion planting - it just makes everything a little harder/complicated when your just starting out.
- Prepare your garden beds: Clear the area where you plan to plant, remove any weeds or debris, and prepare the soil for planting. You may need to add organic soil amendments, peat moss, or fertilizer to improve the soil's health. Reminder, only put in the soil what you want sticking to the food your growing. i.e. If your adding chemicals to the soil to amend it then your vegetables will be growing with chemicals.
- Plant your garden: Once your garden beds are ready, it's time to plant! The easiest approach for keeping your plants alive is to follow the instructions on the seed packets is your throwing some seeds in the ground. If your buying plants from a greenhouse, be sure to ask the staff on the best way to keep your seedlings thriving through the season. Make sure to plant your seedlings appropriately for the space they need and give them the right amount of water.
- Maintain your garden: Regularly check on your plants, removing any weeds that may be harming them. Water as needed and prune, trim, or pinch plants as necessary to keep them healthy.
Follow these steps, don't follow these steps - it's just a little guide to get you started hopefully! You can create a beautiful and thriving garden that meets your goals, enhances your outdoor space and making sure your able to grow some fresh produce for you and your family.