HOW TO START A GARDEN

Outdoor gardening for big and small spaces

An instructional how-to guide that is broken down into four primary sections: planning, designing, installation, and maintenance of a garden in an easy 1,2,3 process. 

GARDEN PLANNING

GARDEN DESIGNING

GARDEN BED INSTALLATION

GARDEN MAINTENANCE

Designing a garden is an ever-changing art form – plants grow, seasons change, environmental conditions change, and the spaces are used by both people and animals.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Make the most of your yard through these four primary phases.

    1. GARDEN PLANNING

    1. Identifying your Ecoregion
    2. Evaluating Your Yard
    3. Measuring Sunlight
    4. Analyzing Your Soil
    5. Identifying Activity Spaces
    6. Determining Garden Location

    2. GARDEN DESIGNING

    1. Elements of Garden Design
    2. Principles of Garden Design

    3. GARDEN BED INSTALLATION

    1. Garden Bed Types
    2. Soil & Compost
    3. Organic Mulch
    4. Irrigation Systems

    4. GARDEN MAINTENANCE

    1. Weeding
    2. Natural Pesticides

    STARTING A GARDEN FROM SCRATCH

    Learning how to plan a garden from scratch starts with curiosity and ends with artful arrangements. 

      Ecoregions – geographically unique regions containing distinct communities of plants and animals. Essentially, ecoregions are areas of the ecosystem that share soil type, climate, temperature, precipitation, and other characteristics.

      Starting a garden requires a holistic approach to the biodiversity in both your microclimate and ecoregion. By considering your ecoregion first, you’re safeguarding the earth’s defenses which require the ecoregion’s native network of plants, insects, fungi, and small vertebrates. This is one of many factors that should be considered when developing a cohesive garden.

      HOW TO START: THE GARDEN PLANNING PHASE

      STEP ONE:  PRE-DESIGN PHASE

      identify your ecoregion as the first step of starting a garden

      1. Identifying your Ecoregion

      By identifying your ecoregion, you can minimize maintenance and water usage through the use of native and adapted plants, integrate pest management, and avoid the introduction of invasive species.

       

      Types of soil for plants

      2. Evaluating your Space

      Complete a site analysis by reviewing your property survey, identifying power and water lines, septic tanks, and terrain constraints.

      how to start a garden measuring sunlight

      3. Measuring Sunlight

      Determine the amount of sunlight in the different parts of your yard through one to two-hour intervals from sunrise to dusk.

      analyzing your soil

      4. Analyzing your Soil

      Analyze your soil to determine moisture content, soil type, drainage characteristics, bedrock, and stability.

      elements of design setting up a garden

      5. Identifying Activity Spaces

      Identify the different activity spaces in your yard and make sure to consider the foot traffic between the different areas. Activity spaces include, for example, an outdoor eating area, a swing set or play area, and a location for additional parking.

      where to place a garden

      6. Determining Where

      Consider the functionality of your garden beds. Sections of your garden will either be aesthetic, structural, or utilitarian.

      HOW TO START THE GARDENING DESIGN PROCESS

      STEP TWO, PART ONE: GARDEN AESTHETICS – THE ELEMENTS OF GARDEN DESIGN

      This section addresses the process of merging your individual design elements into a cohesive aesthetic. Designing your garden combines elements of art and science allowing you to create a functional, aesthetically pleasing extension of indoor living to the outdoor space.

      Line

      elements of design how to set up a garden line

      Line is formed through the way plant beds fit or flow together.

      Form

      elements of design form

      Form and line are closely related. However, form is the outline of the edge of an object. 

      Color

      elements of design how to set up a garden color

      Color choices influence the overall perception of your garden. Different effects can be achieved through the use of harmonious or contrasting textures, tints, and weights of various colors. 

      Texture

      plant texture

      Texture refers to how coarse or fine a surface of a plant or hardscape feels and looks.

      HOW TO START THE GARDENING DESIGN PROCESS

      STEP TWO, PART TWO: GARDEN AESTHETICS – THE PRINCIPLES OF GARDEN DESIGN

      Your garden is guided by your intentions and achieved through these principles.

      Unity

      The creation of harmany between the different components of a garden.

      Scale

      Refers to the size of a garden element in comparison to its surroundings.

      Balance

      The equibrium or equality between spaces of a garden.

      Simplicity

      The emphasis on individual objects within a garden while avoiding the cluttering of plants.

      Variety

      The use of contrast between elements.

      Emphasis

      Highlighting a focus point.

      Sequence

      Repetition of elements to create a pattern using lines, form, color, and texture.

      Transition

      The 3-dimensional perspective of composition between plants is achieved through height and texture changes.

      Pollinator Planet aims to teach how to garden responsibly through sustainable garden practices, conserving natural resources, and welcoming native wildlife.

      HOW TO START A GARDEN BED

      STEP THREE: ELEMENTS OF A GARDEN BED

      Garden Bed Types

      Whether you’re looking to create a traditional in-ground garden bed, or prefer a raised bed, there is a plethora of options available.

      In-Ground Garden Beds

      Metal Garden Beds

      Plastic Garden Beds

      Wooden Garden Beds

      Stone & Concrete Garden Beds

      Repurposed Garden Beds

      Soil & Compost

      Soil characteristics between ecoregions vary due to weathering and microbial processing that is unique to the area. Soil characteristics are categorized by color, depth, structure, stone content, texture, and porosity. 

      Compost is made up of organic matter such as food waste, manure, and leaves, that decompose and return nutrients to the soil.

      Organic Mulch

      Mulch is any material used as a ground covering that is spread or laid over the surface of the soil. There are two kinds of mulch: organic and inorganic. 

      Organic mulches include formerly living materials and come in a variety of forms such as leaves, straw, grass clippings, wood chips, shredded bark, sawdust, pine needles, coco husks, and other organic matter whose purpose is to cover the ground and retain moisture.

      Inorganic mulches are non-biodegradable materials such as recycled rubber, landscape fabrics, and gravel.

      Irrigation Solutions

      Irrigation solutions are controlled supplies of water meant for crop irrigation when water requirements are not met through rainfall.

      Irrigation methods used around the world include:

      Surface Irrigation

      Localized Irrigation

      Drip Irrigation or Micro-Irrigation 

      Sprinkler Irrigation

      Center Pivot Irrigation 

      Lateral Move Irrigation

      Sub-Irrigation

      Manual Irrigation

      Flood Irrigation

      Surge Irrigation

      Creating a self-sustainable, low maintenance, eco-friendly garden means increased enjoyment and decreased chores.

      HOW TO CREATE A LOW MAINTENANCE SELF-SUSTAINABLE GARDEN

      STEP FOUR: HOW TO CARE FOR AND MAINTAIN A HEALTHY ECO-FRIENDLY GARDEN

      Weeding

      Natural Pesticides

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