Gardening is a great way to get some exercise, enjoy the outdoors, and grow your own food. However, it can also be a lot of work. If you're not careful, you can end up with a garden that's full of weeds and not much else. That's where garden planning comes in.
Garden planning is an often overlooked but essential part of gardening. It is the process of creating a plan for your garden before you start planting. By taking the time to plan your garden, you can ensure that you are planting the right crops in the right places, and that you are giving your plants the best possible chance to thrive. It will help you avoid problems such as overcrowding, pests, and diseases, and also help you to make the most of your space and resources.
There are many benefits to garden planning. Here are five:
- Increased yield: Garden planning can help you to increase your yield by ensuring that you plant the right plants in the right places. Taller plants can shade smaller plants which could be beneficial for some, or detrimental to others. Planning ahead can give you the results you want.
- Reduced pests and diseases: Garden planning can help you to reduce pests and diseases by planting crops that are resistant to them. Also companion plantings can deter pests. Plants such as basil, garlic, catnip, and marigolds can all deter different pests, but it takes planning to make sure you plant the right plants together to get the full effect.
- Improved soil health: Garden planning can help you to improve soil health by adding organic matter and rotating crops. Crops, such as legumes, fix nitrogen in the soil, where something like corn depletes the nitrogen. Rotating these crops can amend the soil without huge amounts of fertilizers.
- More efficient use of water: Garden planning can help you to use water more efficiently by planting crops that require less water. You can also grow plants that shade the ground to keep evaporation down.
- More enjoyment: Garden planning can help you to get more enjoyment out of your garden by creating a space that is beautiful and functional. When you have a plan, gardening is more fun and less stressful.
If you're new to garden planning, there are a few things you can do to get started:
- Start by creating a list of your goals. What do you want to grow in your garden? How much time do you have to spend on it?
- Do some research on the plants you want to grow. What are their sun and water requirements? What kind of soil do they need?
- Draw a plan of your garden. Where will you plant each type of plant?
- Create a schedule for planting and harvesting. When will you plant each type of plant? When will you harvest them?
The Gardener’s Logbook and Journal by Blooming Wisdom Press is an excellent tool to help you plan for success. Check it out https://amzn.to/3HkZKHb.
Remember, garden planning is a flexible process. You can always change your plan as needed. The most important thing is to get started and enjoy the process.
Here are some additional tips for garden planning:
- Consider your climate. What plants grow well in your area?
- Choose plants that you enjoy eating.
- Don't overcrowd your plants. Make sure to give each plant enough space to grow.
- Be prepared to water your plants regularly.
- Protect your plants from pests and diseases.
- Be patient. It takes time to grow a garden.
I encourage you to give garden planning a try. You may be surprised at how much you enjoy it!
I hope this blog has been helpful. If you have any questions, please feel free to leave a comment below.
Happy Gardening!