General Info

There are many kinds of gardens, from formal to informal, and working gardens to those that are just for entertaining.

Whatever your gardening needs, a good design is important to producing a useful and beautiful landscape. To be effective, a good design will take into account the needs of everyone who might use it.

Every good garden begins with a plan. The first step is to measure your plot and make a scaled drawing of it on paper. Include all existing structures, such as detached garages, swing sets, patios or decks, and driveways. Draw in all the trees that you intend to keep in the garden. These are all immovable items that you must design around.

Pay attention to the amount of shade and sun that impacts your yard, as this has a profound affect on what you can grow successfully in the garden. Shade-loving plants will burn in all-day sun, and sun-loving plants will not grow and bloom well in too shady areas.

Assess your soil. There are simple kits you can purchase to test the acidity and overall quality of your soil; however, a very simple way to evaluate it is simple by digging some up and looking carefully. The goal is a rich dark brown/black earth that is easy to dig, retains it's moisture and is laden with worms. If your soil looks like sand or clay, you will benefit from working to improve it. You can always order a truckload of good topsoil to work into your garden for some instant relief.

Families need to consider the impact children and pets will have on a garden as they will inevitably run around and play whether there is space or not. Knowing this, families will want to build plenty of grassy areas into the landscape to accommodate their play. Pets will ignore the boundaries and run right through your flower beds, ruining the gardens you work so hard to plant. Rather than put a lot of time and effort into beautiful gardens that will be destroyed, think carefully about placement and how you will minimize the impact of kids and pets on your garden.

Whatever your style preference, it is a good idea to begin with some hardy shrubs or trees that are zoned for your area. Start by putting in the biggest things first, and remember: it is always easier to add a few more things later, than it is to get rid of a plant you end up regretting. Check carefully to avoid invasive plants that will end up being a lot of maintenance.

Think about what you want in your garden. Are you a flower fiend? Do you want a culinary garden? Perhaps you want a combination of flowers, greenery, herbs and vegetables. Do you favor a wild, cottage look? Or is a formal, well trimmed garden more your style? The options are endless, and only limited by your imagination.