How to Organize Your Garden

If you’re planning a garden for the spring, organizing it ahead of time before you even plant can help ensure your garden’s success. Check out these tips for getting your garden organized.

Decide What You Will Plant

Before you can do anything with your garden, you need to know what you will be planting. Sit down with a seed catalog and make out a list of the garden plants you hope to grow. As you make your list, be sure to write down the length of time to maturity for each plant.

Find Out Your Region’s Planting Dates

Every region has a final frost date after which it is generally safe to plant. Use this date to help you determine when to start seeds indoors, when to break ground, and when to plant in the ground.

Use Companion Planting Principals

Research companion planting principals in order to get the best yields and quality from your garden. Companion planting means planting certain plants near each other so they will offer each other benefits from nutrients, improved growth, and pest control. For example, carrots and tomatoes grow well when planted near each other.

After you’ve decided what you are going to plant, use the list you made to keep notes on what to plant together. This list will help you determine the rest of your shopping list for seeds and plants. You will also need to figure out the maturity dates for the companion plants you are planning to put in the ground.

Draw Out a Map of Your Garden Plan

Once you’ve decided upon all the plants you want in your garden and which plants work well when planted together, you will need to draw out a map for your garden. The map will help you determine where everything will be placed in your garden. Have this map laminated or slip it into a sheet protector to keep for the duration of your garden. You will be able to refer back to it throughout the growing season.

Order Seeds or Buy Plants

If you are ordering seeds to plant, do your ordering 6-8 weeks before you plan to break ground. This will give you enough time to get your seeds started indoors so they are ready to put in the ground after the danger of frost has passed.

If you are intending to buy plants instead of seeds, these will need to be put in the ground after the last frost date for your region.

Making a plan for your garden and getting it organized before it’s time to plant will help improve your garden this year. Once you have a plan in place, you can get everything started and enjoy watching that home grown goodness flourish.

If you are in need of better organization skills in general, then we have some things here that will be sure yo help you out! Check out our guide to Getting Organized! If you find that you are still having organization problems, then you might want to try this book on organizing inside and out!