So that’s pretty much it for the overall planning process.  Take note of what you’ve got, decide what you want, justify that with what’s possible, divide the whole into areas. 

Now what?  Well, logically, you do one area at a time.  But we aren’t Vulcans (Star Trek reference), so there’s a big problem with doing one thing at a time.  Several problems actually. 

 The biggest problem is emotional — you’re stuck with looking at all that unfinished stuff while you concentrate on that one area.  And you can spend a whole growing season on one area – easily.  Even a whole year or more.  

Another problem with doing only one area at a time is more practical – cost and efficiency and logistics.  It just makes sense to do some things all at once.  Preparing the soil is the biggest example of this.  Unless you just lucked into having really good soil, which is unlikely, then you really really need to spend that first year amending the soil.  I can’t emphasize this enough.   It will save you so much time, effort, money and ….. heartache.  If you want great plants, start with great soil.  Period.  Any excuse you make for not amending the soil is just an excuse – one that you’ll pay for later.  I guess the only really acceptable excuse is that you’re moving in six months.  But who plans a garden when they’re moving?  (Hint:  if you want the garden of your dreams – stop moving!).  Americans move so often.  Jeez!

Solution?  The first part of the solution is with the design – you have to know what and where all of your areas will be and what they’ll be used for.  You don’t have to have every square foot planned out, but you’ll need to know if it will have trees, major shrubs, benches, tables, etc.  (Of course you already know where your paths run.)   

The second part is to do all of the really big things first.

  One – build the soil.  I’ll do a posting on this soon.  Prepare to bring in truckloads of topsoil, grow crops of nutrient building plants to work into the soil, compost, etc.  Probably all of these.  

Two – plant all the major plants.  Trees take a while to mature  (the ones that don’t are usually weak).  Figure out where your trees and major shrubs will be and plant them.  Do it right.  Put them in the right size whole with lots of good dirt.  And most important – don’t forget that trees do grow.  Know how big (and how wide) they’re going to be when fully grown.  The number one failure with trees, short of failing to nuture them  early on….. okay, okay.  The number TWO failure with trees is to not allow for their FULLY GROWN size.   (“Guilty, your honor”).   Then your trees are too close together, or rub the house, etc.   Also….never mind.   I’ll do a separate posting on trees too.  

Three – build all the major hardscaping now.  Any walls, fences, arbors, or paths that you have planned will be a lot easier to do without all the new growth in the way.  And the hardscaping and the trees will give you the sense that your garden is shaping up.  AND you’ll get a sense of if it’s going to work or not.  Especially by doing the paths and any retaining walls, you know first hand where all the areas are.   Something to look forward to.  “Ah but a man’s reach should exceed his grasp…. or what’s a heaven for?”  – Lord Byron

Filed under: Planning a Garden