Do Your Gardening Planning Right Now
Most people don’t start thinking about landscaping and gardening projects until the daffodils are budding. However, the time when the garden is at its most dormant is the perfect to make plans for the upcoming planting season.
Why?
• Most yard chores are out of the way – there is no grass to cut and the leaves are probably raked.
• This is the slowest season for nurseries and landscapers; they have much more time to answer questions and give advice.
• Thinking about lush greenery and colorful flowers is a great way to beat the winter blues.
If you want to do a comprehensive landscape plan, you need a diagram of your yard with accurate measurements. This means venturing out in the cold with measuring tape, but it can make a huge difference in the success of your plan.
In addition to a clear idea of the area you have to work with, you need to also know the sun exposure. Some plants love sun, others thrive in shade and you need to select the right type of plants for the right amount of sun exposure. Remember, areas under deciduous trees may be sunny now, but they’ll be shady when the leaves return.
Think about how you use your yard. You’ll want totally different approaches if your yard is the site of active games or you want to attract wildlife. In addition to lifestyle, keep in mind just how much time you wish to devote to maintaining your yard. A rose garden requires much more attention than a row of evergreen shrubs.
Gather up all your gardening catalogues and mark all the plants you’re interested in. Make sure they’re hardy in your zone and have the right sun preference. Also pay attention to the size they reach when mature to make sure you allow enough space.
If you’re unsure about some of the plants, take your plant list and yard diagram with you to the nursery and ask someone with more experience. It could be well worth the expense to hire a professional landscaper for a couple of hours of consulting to help you refine your plan. The money you invest in that expertise now could save you disappointment and money when inappropriate plants fail to thrive later.
Use the winter months for thoughtful planning now and create a landscape design you can enjoy in every season for years to come.
The Schacter Team - The Schacter Team