Planning is the critical factor in the success of any garden. While planning a garden it is important to think about the function or functions of the garden. Think about the components you want and how they’ll function together. A good plan saves time & money.

Start by gathering your ideas. Take photos of your proposed garden space. Cut pictures from magazines, pictures that inspire you. Scatter these picture on a table and visualize your garden layout. Make a list of the elements you want in your garden. Are you going to add lighting & drainage? What about childrens equipment? Do you add a water feature for tranquility, or perhaps a sculpture for artistic value? Are you looking for privacy from a neighbor? Open areas of play? Place all these elements together to see how they will flow from one to the next. Drawing a bubble diagram, such as the one abve, helps organize all these thoughts into one design. Planning helps you visualize how your garden will look & function.

Now consider how you are going to water your garden. Drainage problems will destroy any garden. It is important to work on correcting drainage issues before any other steps are taken. Identify low areas in the lawn and garden that may lead to drainage complications. Then correct any low areas by adding fill. Use clean sand for lawn areas, & use an organic-based soil for the garden.

* Plan to water your garden. Watering is the most important factor in growing the healthy plant material that will provide you years of enjoyment. One solution is an automatic irrigation system. This requires an initial investment but, over time, pays for itself. Another, less expensive, solution is to use movable sprinklers which can be automated with a timer. Either of these methods will allow for regular watering and dispersal of an equal amount of water.