Last Updated on August 25, 2023

How to Plan a Garden: A Comprehensive Guide

Gardening can be a fun and rewarding hobby, but it's important to plan ahead to ensure your garden is successful. In this post, we'll go through the steps of how to plan your garden from start to finish, including placement and scheduling.

How to Plan a Garden Placement & Layout:

• Start by brainstorming all the plants you want to include in your garden. Consider the types of vegetables, herbs, and flowers you want to grow, as well as the space you have available.
  
  
• Use the square foot method to map out your garden beds and determine how many plants you can fit in each square foot. There are various resources available that provide guidance on plant spacing and the number of plants that can be planted per square foot like our square foot reference guide here.
  
  
• Consider the direction your garden beds face, as well as the height of the plants you want to grow. Taller crops should be placed in front of shorter ones to avoid shading. You may also want to consider the amount of sun and shade different areas of your garden receive throughout the day.

How to Plan a Garden Schedule:

• Determine your climate zone and the expected last frost date in your area. This will help you determine when it's safe to plant your seeds and transplant seedlings outside. You can find this information by inputting your zip code into our PlanMyGarden tool to get your last expected spring frost date.
  
  
• Use several tools and books to identify when to start seeds indoors and when it's safe to transplant them outside, or you can use our PlanMyGarden tool to have a printable schedule generated for each vegetable you are growing tailored to your climate. These resources provide guidance on the optimal planting dates for different types of plants based on your location and climate.
  
  
• Take into account the maturity time of each plant, as well as their tolerance to different temperatures. Some plants, such as tomatoes and peppers, require a longer growing season and seeds should be started indoors for areas with short growing seasons. On the other hand, cool-season crops like lettuce and spinach can tolerate colder temperatures and can be planted earlier in the spring or later in the fall.
  

Other Factors to Consider When Planning a Garden:

• Soil conditions: The quality of your soil can have a big impact on the success of your garden. Consider getting a soil test to determine the pH level and nutrient content of your soil. Based on the results, you may need to add amendments like compost or fertilizer to improve the soil quality. However, I like to encourage new gardeners to start with a good base of organic compost. If this is done, soil tests are not needed.
  
  
• Succession planting: This refers to the practice of planting small amounts of a particular crop at regular intervals rather than all at once. This can help ensure a continuous harvest throughout the growing season and make the most of your space.
  
  
• Watering: Proper watering is essential for the health and growth of your plants. Consider installing a drip irrigation system or setting up a watering schedule to ensure your plants receive the right amount of moisture.
  
  
• Season extension: If you want to extend the growing season in your area, you may want to consider using season extension techniques like cold frames, row covers, or greenhouses.
  
  

Conclusion: Planning your garden doesn't have to be overwhelming. By following these steps and considering placement, scheduling, and other factors like soil conditions and watering, you'll be on your way to a successful garden.

And don't forget, you can use our Plan My Garden to get a custom garden plan in just a few simple steps.