Gardeners say you should be planning your garden now for its best spring ever – here’s why

It may be the middle of winter, but gardening professionals say now is the perfect time to start dreaming about your spring garden. With plenty of time before spring officially arrives, there’s no need to rush the planning stage. Early planning ensures that you have time to obtain plants, seeds, and other supplies you may need. spring gardening,

“When spring comes, you’ll be ready to go and not overwhelmed in the nursery,” says Laura Janney, founder of The Inspired Garden. “Good planning now will save time and money later.”

So, what is involved in the garden planning process? What can you start doing now to prepare for gardening season? According to experts, some things should be considered here.

Define your gardening goals

Jenny suggests starting by assessing and defining your gardening goals for the year. For example, do you want to increase or make a new gardenAre you planning to dabble in container gardening or garden beds? Answering these questions will give you an idea of ​​the projects you’ll be tackling and help you prepare effectively for the season.

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gather inspiration

Once your goals are defined, it’s time to research and gather inspiration. (The fun part!)

Jenny says that Pinterest, Instagram and Google are great places to find inspiration, along with gardening books. Ask yourself what kind of garden you want: cottagey and dreamy, elegant and formal, wild and ‘untamed’? Or perhaps you are planning to cultivate it herb or vegetable garden,

Then research the types of plants and gardening practices that will help you achieve the look you want.

Assess your space and resources

Next, think about where you would like the garden to be and what its conditions would be like. Jenny says this includes the amount of light the area gets (full sun, partial sun or shade), soil conditions, drainage, and deer or other wildlife that may be affecting the plants.

This step usually runs concurrently with the inspiration phase. It’s important to keep your location and resources in mind when you browse and collect ideas.

as beautiful as big cottage style rose garden If you have a small, dimly lit area to work with, you may find this on Pinterest that this probably won’t be possible in your space. Similarly, shade-loving plants like hostas And ferns will fry in bright light, making them unsuitable for gardens with hot, direct sunlight.

Create a Plant Wishlist

Create a wish list of the plants, shrubs and flowers you will need to bring your dream garden to life. In addition to making sure you buy plants suitable for your circumstances (like lighting and soil conditions), Jenny says you should also consider bloom time, color, and texture.

For example, if you are planning a new garden and want to ensure that it provides year-round interest, you will want to purchase plants that bloom or provide color and leaves In spring, summer and autumn. Creating a mockup of your garden can help you visualize how the plants will arrange and grow through each season.

Tammy Sans, Founder and CEO of TN Nursery says companion planting It is also important to think. Co-planting is a proven way to reduce pests and increase yields of fruits, herbs, etc. botanical gardenAnd it is beneficial for other types of gardens as well. If you plan to grow crops like fruits and vegetables, Sans also recommends implementing crop rotation to maintain soil health,

have fun

Most of all, enjoy it!

“Gardening is very rewarding and a wonderful hobby,” says Jenny. Dreaming about upcoming flowers is one of the best cures for the winter blues.

Planning a garden can take time, but doing it now will have you ready to dive into the fun come spring. Plus, with proper planning, you won’t buy plants you don’t have room for or plants that bloom all at once.