Using a Garden Plan to Organize Your Yard

A garden plan can help you plan and visualize the plans you have for your garden. Whether you use a paper and pencil or a computer program such as EdrawMax This step will help you ensure that your raised garden is exactly what you envision.

Most vegetables thrive in a sunny area that is near water for irrigation. Many gardeners agree that dividing rows north/south is the best way to avoid taller plants shading shorter plants.

Sun and Shade

It's important to consider the amount of sun or shade that each area receives when you plant your garden. If you plant a sun-loving flower in a shaded spot it won't flourish and may not bloom well. A shade-loving flower planted too close to the sun's rays will eventually burn and die.

The cardinal directions, along with the location of buildings and large trees can impact the amount of sunlight each section of your yard receives. Making a sun map is a good way to determine how much sunlight your yard gets. Keep an eye on the area for an hour or so per day. Be sure to take into consideration shadows created by tall structures and tall plants. Then, over the course of a few days, record the time each area gets direct sunlight and how long it stays.

If you're struggling with a lot of shade, you might consider climbing trees to reduce the shade. This allows more sunlight to penetrate the lower branches, making shady areas appear healthier. You can also use containers to grow flowers and herbs in shaded areas. Annuals that are planted directly in the ground will have a harder to grow and won't bloom as beautifully as those grown in containers. The Old Farmer's Almanac Garden Planner helps you select plants that can thrive for shaded areas. Simply click on the 'Partial Shade Tolerant' filter on the selection bar to explore the options.

Water

To keep water usage in the garden under control, this plan is based on plants that can get by with a minimum of irrigation. Nature has provided drought-tolerant plants with features that help them survive. These include lush succulent leaves that hold moisture and a slight fuzzy coating that holds morning dew. Begin by drawing in the shrubs and perennials. Planting larger plants first is the best because they need more space. It's a good idea to wait on adding any border ornaments like the mulch or stepping stones until the garden is nearly complete. These items add up quickly and can be costly to put in.

Compost

Composting your raised garden will enhance the soil's quality by increasing its nutrient and moisture content. It also introduces soil microbes that suppress pathogens and prevent diseases, thus reducing the requirement for chemical fertilizers. Compost is created by decomposing organic material - including pet waste, plant clippings, and viable food scraps - into a rich humus that acts as a natural plant fertilizer.

The best place to start a compost pile is on the ground, rather than in a bin. This will allow beneficial worms and organisms into the pile. Put a few inches of straw or twigs over the ground to aid in aerating the compost and slow its breakdown. The ideal place for the pile is to be shaded and in an area with good drainage. Avoid placing a compost heap near a shady or dry area that could attract rodents.

Aim for a ratio of two to three parts carbon-rich materials (browns) to one part nitrogen-rich materials (greens). Alternate layers of brown and green ingredients. Avoid adding large amounts of one kind of ingredient like all your leaves at once. This could impede air circulation and cause the stack of ingredients to get too hot.

A variation to traditional compost piles is to dig a trench to hold the ingredients and then cover it with garden soil. This method is used to grow vegetables like climbing beans in rows. The rich, nutrient-rich and Homes gardens moisture-retentive compost assists in feeding the plants and encourages a vigorous growth and huge yields.

Fertilizer

Plants make their own food by photosynthesis, but that process takes time. When natural plant food is in short supply or depleted man-made fertilizers can be used to supplement nutrients. The majority of commercial fertilizers have nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. There are other elements that are beneficial in smaller quantities, such as calcium and magnesium.

Natural and synthetic fertilizers are readily available, but you should be sure to read the labels to find out which one is best for your garden. Certain fertilizers can contain weed or insect control chemicals that can have an impact on the environment, however these should be used separately from the fertilizer to avoid any negative consequences.

It is important to take your time before buying seeds or plants to determine which crops you are most interested in and the amount of area you have to dedicate to a garden. Find your zone of hardiness and consider what vegetables thrive in that region. Plan to rotate crops to improve soil fertility and yield.

Creating a garden plan also helps you determine where your borders and beds should be as well as deciding the number and position of Homes Gardens - affiliates.Mrvegas.Com, and pathways. This will help you avoid confusion and also save time. Also, it gives you the chance to mark on the scale plan what types of softscape and hardscape elements you would like to incorporate into your garden. For example, you might include some creative pergola ideas to create shade or a seating space in the sun, and also some pathways that are paved or gravel between your vegetables.

Pests and Diseases

While many gardeners appreciate the pleasure of gardening, there is always the possibility that pests and diseases could impact a planting. Fortunately, several easy methods can be used to prevent diseases and pests before they have the chance to be spread.

Start with a healthy, well-groomed soil. The more nutrient-rich your soil is, the better the plants are able to resist damage by fungi, virus and bacteria. Include regular additions of organic matter such as compost to encourage thriving populations of microbes and other organisms that aid in promoting healthy plants.

You can plant a variety of vegetables that will attract beneficial insects. These beneficial insects consume pests that would otherwise devour or pollinate your plants. By attracting these natural predators to your garden will decrease the amount of pesticides you have to use and will prevent caterpillars and aphids from destroying your garden.

Inspect your plants regularly for signs of pest or disease infestations. Check for wilted or damaged leaves, stems, and flowers. These are the first indications of a problem with the plant. They must be treated immediately to avoid an outbreak.

Find out what kind of disease or insect is the problem and take corrective action. For instance, if your tomato plants suffer from brown spots, examine their roots for signs of nematodes fusarium or verticillium, all diseases that are spread by pests, and could quickly kill your tomato crop.

You can also learn more about

A garden plan will help you plan your garden from the kind of plants you want to plant in the border to the best times to harvest. You can also stay on top of essential chores such as the watering, pest control and fertilizer application. A number of free garden bed planning programs are available online. These programs are ideal for people who are new to gardening or are looking to maximize their space.

Certain of these garden plans have pre-made templates that can give you a starting point for your design While others allow you to start from scratch. The majority of these plans let you zoom in or out and move the drawing around to create it exactly how you want. You can also create fences, sprinkler systems walls, plants and walls.

This browser-based program developed by Anglian Home began as a cheat sheet for vegetable growers and has evolved into an interactive online tool that can be utilized to plan any kind of garden. It will guide you in selecting the best plants and vegetables that thrive in your climate and give you the top guidelines on how to plant and harvest effectively. It will also look at the weather conditions in your area and recommend the best dates for planting and harvesting.

This garden planner is designed more towards trees and flowers than vegetables, but it's still worth checking out. Unlike other garden planning software, this one makes use of 3D rendering and provides a bird's-eye view of your garden.