Believe it or not, now is the perfect time to start thinking about your garden. The ground may be frozen, but there is plenty to do before you start digging! We’ve put together 3 tips for how to plan your garden so you’re ready to go when spring arrives.
Find and store inspiration
Before you can decide what to plant, you have to decide what you want. Create a Pinterest board or gather photo clippings from your favorite gardening magazines. Do you want more flowers, or all vegetables? Whether annual blooms or trees and shrubs are more your style this season, make sure to have either a written list or an online folder dedicated to your interests. Having a game plan can save you time and money in the long run.
Know your zone
Maryland has a varied landscape and depending on location, and will register on various gardening zoning calendars. Before planting, be sure that whatever you want to plant is zone appropriate. A soil sample will help you determine what types of flowers and vegetables will grow well and what additional nutrients may need to be worked into the soil in order to achieve maximum healthy growth.
Sketch it out
Once you know what is going into the ground, plot it out! It’s simple to create a diagram using graph paper, just be sure to scale it to size. Or there are several online tools available that allow you to input the desired measurements of your plot. Whichever way you choose, don’t forget to add the appropriate spacing between plants to make sure they don’t get in each other’s way. Also note the height for each plant to ensure no excess shade is created or views blocked.
Plant height and space
Each packet of seeds or potted plant you buy will usually come with a growth chart. This information allows you to know the size width and height each planting requires. Be sure to note this information into any garden planning application or make notations for each plant variation on your sketched graph.
If you have questions about planning your spring garden, our designers are here to help! Click here to submit your question or to request more information.