Garden Planning for Spring with BigYellowBag!

In the early months of the year, chilly temperatures and threats of frost might limit your ability to be outside digging in the dirt. But don’t let that keep you from doing some fun gardening-related activities! Winter is a great time to start your garden planning, and figure out where you’re going to plant what.  

Mark and Measure for Proper Garden Planning

To properly get started garden planning, you need a clear understanding of the space you have available, and its qualities. Grab a tape measure and record the dimensions of your whole space, as well as the size and specific locations of any items in that space – think trees, sheds, pools, etc. This is also a good time to make note of things like the lay of the land. Are there low-lying areas that get a lot of water runoff and hilly spots that are drier? How much sun does each area get per day? (Of course, this will be different depending on the season, but making note of it in the winter or spring will give you an idea of what summer will bring). If you have any perennials that you’re keeping in place, it’s a good idea to mark those down, too. 

You can draw out this map on a sheet of paper, or you can do a digital version. The key is to use what works best for you. There are plenty of resources online for putting together a basic garden plan. Whatever medium you choose to make your map, be sure to save a master copy. You don’t want to have to start over again each year; you can just update it with any changes. In the summer during the main growing season, you can make additional notes regarding the sun and shade times. 

Put Together Your Own Garden Plan

Knowing the unique features and qualities of your space will greatly increase your chances of garden success.  As you may know, certain plants require more sun/shade than others! Ensure your plants have their ideal home in your yard with effective garden planning.

Are you looking to optimize a small space? Do you have accessibility concerns? Be sure to consider whether you’ll be working mostly from a sitting or standing position. Taking the time to make these considerations now, will save you time, money, and effort! Do you want everything to bloom at once, or do you want to stagger it out over a longer period of time? Are you more focused on aesthetics or utility?  

Water accessibility is also an important consideration. Be sure that your garden beds are within reach of a water source, especially if you’re building an accessible garden. Plan to make watering as easy as possible throughout the growing season.

Make a Garden Plan You Can Handle

On top of figuring out how you want your garden to function and what you want it to look like, it’s important to determine how much time you’re able to dedicate to it. Planting, weeding, watering, pruning, etc. are all essential tasks for any successful garden. You want to make sure tending to your garden remains a joy, and doesn’t become a burden.  

These are all factors to consider when picking what plants you’re going to include in your garden – and specifically where you’re going to put them – to make sure you have the most success possible with it. We recommend starting small, especially if you’re new to gardening, so that your Summer project is manageable. If you want, create a couple garden plans! First, create your dream garden plan. Then dial it back a bit and come up with something a little more manageable. That’s the beauty of garden planning! It helps you anticipate how much time and effort this year’s garden is going to take.

Garden Planning with BigYellowBag Black Garden Soil

Whatever plan you end up with for your garden, be sure to incorporate BigYellowBag Black Garden Soil. Our soil is packed with essential nutrients and organic matter to give your plants the ‘food’ they need to grow healthy and strong. On top of that, the light and fluffy properties of our soil make it a fantastic growing medium. BigYellowBag Black Garden Soil is made up of a mix of black loam, peat loam, compost and manure. Loam is a soil type comprised of sand, silt and clay in the right ratios so that there is a perfect balance of drainage and moisture retention to ensure you will have a great growing season, whatever is in your garden.