Planning Your Garden-Five Important Steps to Consider

Step 1 - Consider your time

How much time can you and are you willing to spend gardening?

Gardening takes time. The great news is, you get to decide on how much time you want to spend in your flower or vegetable garden. Starting small, especially as a beginner, is ALWAYS a good idea.

Step 2 - Space

How much garden space do you have? Do you have any areas that are sunny? You do not need a traditional garden to grow flowers. A few plants can fit in right among bushes and shrubs around the house. But the space you have, will make a difference on what and how many plants or flowers you can grow.

What zone are you in? This is important to know. You also need to know your first and last frost dates. This is very important for seed starting and transplanting so all your hard work beginning your garden ends in a bountiful harvest.

Step 3 - Why

Why are you growing flowers? Is it just for yourself, to share cut-flowers with others, to gift, to sell? You get to decide the answer to this question, but once you decide why your growing a garden, this will help you know how much and what kind of plants or flowers to grow.

Step 4 - What items Do I Need to Grow Flowers

• pots

• seed starting mix, or soil blocker mix

• soil blocker or seed trays

• popsicle sticks or plant tags

• garden marker

• shovel

• hoe, for weeding

• garden snips

• rake

• watering can

• or start with my DIY Cut Flower Garden Kit

Step 5 - Planning your Space

What kind of soil do you have? Do some research on the different types of soil, or send in a soil test at your local co-op and find out. A soil test will tell you what kind of garden soil you have, and if you need to add anything to make for better growing conditions.

Next is light, how much sun does your garden space get. Is it morning or afternoon sun? Is it all day?

How big is your garden space? Knowing this will help you determine how many plants you can fit in your garden.

Dream big. Every year I want to grow 1000 different veggies, flowers, and plants. Go over your plant and flower list again and again until you have a nice realistic size for your garden space and time. Remember that you can try some of the other plants or flowers next year.