Selecting a Site for Your Garden

A back yard or some other plot near your home in full sunlight is the most convenient spot for a home garden. However, poor drainage, shallow soil, and shade from buildings or trees may mean the garden must be located in an area farther from the house. Avoid a spot that is exposed and extra windy, or else provide a windbreak. Excess wind is drying in summer and also harmful in winter.

In siting your flower garden, think about how it fits into your overall landscape. You do not want to put your flower bed in a spot where the kids usually play or the family dog loves to dig. Put it in a location where you will be able to see it and enjoy it from your deck or patio, or from an often-used window. Consider the background behind your garden You probably do not want it in front of an eyesore such as your trash cans or the neighbor's dog pen.

In planning your garden, consider what and how much you will plant. It is better to have a small garden well maintained than a large one neglected and full of weeds. Diagram the garden rows on paper and note the length you wish to assign to each vegetable or flower. Use a scale of a selected number of feet to an inch. Then you can decide how much seed and how many plants to buy.

Consider also the possibility of working your plants in plots in front of your shrubbery. Don't plant under a tree or next to a large hedge where there will be competing roots underground. The roots of those larger plants will steal moisture and nutrients from your flowers, and tree branches especially will prevent rain and sun from reaching the ground. Tree roots will also make soil preparation difficult.

Be sure to check for buried utility lines or gas and water pipes underground where you plan to put your flower garden. Hitting a line (for example cable, telephone, electric, water, sewer, gas, septic) when you dig to prepare the soil can be dangerous not to mention inconvenient and expensive to repair.

There is a toll free number in your phone book that you can call to make sure there are no hidden hazards in your garden.

Many perennial vegetables are ornamental in appearance. Some vegetables can be grown in your flower beds; others can be grown entirely in containers. They can be used as borders around your flowers garden, and can also help to deter small animals from damaging your plants.

The amount of sunlight your garden gets must also be considered. The type of plants, and how much sun they need, should be considered when selecting your plants. Most seed packages will have the amount of sun they need printed on them. This will help you determine which plants will do best in your conditions.