We’ve all had a hand in dirt, plants and watching them grow. Not everyone has been a part of the planning part though. To enjoy a successful garden, creating a set of mini-plans can get you on the road to running the big plans starting with paper. The garden should start in design, what needs to be done to the area you plan to garden on, what types of equipment, soil, products to purchase needs to go into all the thoughts behind the big plan.

Drawing out your vision is one of the first steps to laying out the design. Use a pencil in case your first ideas carry on to other ideas that you would like to go back and erase. Visualize the area and start marking what shape the ground will be cut into. If there is going to be square, round or odd shapes you design to put in for uniqueness. Decide if you will add a garden/potting shed. What will it take to have one built? Can you build it, or will you have a professional take that job. This might be where a budget would come into play.

A planning budget may just help in finding out if you can pursue all the ideas you’d like to add to your garden dream. What does material cost? Do I need to bring in new soil, and what kinds of soil should I mix in? What type of garden do I want? Vegetable? Flowers? Do I want a mix of both? What size do I need my shed to be? What kind of footprint will I have in my garden? Do I set up garden boxes? How will I deal with insects? Should I incorporate trellises, arbors and fence? Oh, the possibilities are overwhelming to say the least! This is why a budget is import to see what is possible to begin with, so when you are half way through the plan, you don’t find out you’ve run out of money.

Get inspiration from others who you can Google, neighbors who have already created their own gardens, or join a garden society to network with others to find out the most cost effective things they did or wish they did. The garden is up to you. Your design is your own, but the ideas that can come from just seeing what others have done can bring upon brainstorming that will surely give you joy when you finally see the fruits of your labor sitting on your table! Enjoy the journey!