How To
Plan A Garden Right
by: BIO
Gardening
Gardening is a hobby that brings joy, entertainment, and a better
quality of life. It is a creative activity, the result of which is a
more aesthetically appealing home.
Thoughtful planning of a garden starts with the type
of garden you would like to have. Deciding on a type of garden is
essential defore choosing which design elements to include. Will your
garden be just a place to plant a bunch of flowers, which will blossom
only during the growing season? Or would you rather have a
thoughtfully-chosen herb garden? Or maybe just a vegetable plot?
Another issue to consider is the climate in your
location. It can be surprising how little we know about the facts,
figures and statistics of the weather where we live. You may want to
consult an online map to get statistical data regarding climate elements
like rainfall per month or average temperatures.
The next step, after having decided about the type of
garden and after investigating the local climate, is to figure out the
plants that you would like to grow in your garden. Think of plants that
are suitable for the duration of the growing season in your location and
that will survive the changes in temperature, typical for your location.
The thoughtful planning of a garden involves one more
factor to consider - how much shade is necessary for each of the plants.
You need to make sure that there is enough light all over the places you
plan to plant your garden.
When you have finished with planning in theory, it is
time to start planning the plots in your garden. Again, think for a good
plan - one that brings joy, is easy to keep to, and at the same time
efficiently uses the available space.
Think about where to place plants that require a lot
of sunlight. The best place for such plants is away from buildings and
taller trees because these block the light at daytime.
Deciding which plants to grow near the house, and
which should be in the open also requires some thought. If you prefer
the sunshine streaming through your windows, then you are best not to
have bulky trees or bushes near the house, where they will block the
sunlight.
If you have decided that you will be growing herbs and
vegetables, the best place for them is near the house. When they are
near the house, it is more likely that you will be using them for
cooking. Besides convenience, you should also think about the location
of vegetables as far as their needs for sunlight are concerned. This is
especially true if yours is mainly a vegetable garden.
Last, but not least, take into account your personal
preferences, when designing a garden. If there are particular extras you
would like to have, for instance winding pathways or gazebos, include
them in the initial design of the garden. Your outdoor garden is
constrained only by the limits of your creativity and the growing season
in your location.
David Kurshel is the webmaster of BIO Gardening -- a
popular and extensive resource including articles and a newsletter about
gardening. For more information, go to: http://www.biogardening.com