Now is the time of the year when seed and garden catalogs start pouring in. Whether you’re working with a vegetable garden, a flowerbed, or a complete landscape, it’s always best to start with a plan. A plan can save you time, space, and money.
The first thing to plan is simple; what kind of garden do you want? You could grow a garden for vegetables, roses, a fragrance garden, cut flowers, aquatics, or start a children’s garden. There are so many fun choices!
Next, plan the location for the garden. Do you have sun or shade? This will influence your plant choices. Different plants have different sun requirements. A garden full of hostas, ferns, and impatiens would do quite well in moderate shade. A rose garden prefers the morning sun to dry the dew off the leaves before mildew sets in. For vegetables, the more sun the better.
The viewpoints are also important. Do you want to view (and smell) the rose garden from the bedroom window? Maybe you want to hide the view of the vegetable garden from the living room or place the herb garden just outside the kitchen door for quick clippings to add to your favorite recipes.
Keep these tips in mind when combing through the catalogs. I will offer more insight into “planning before planting” in your next Great Garden Tip.
