How to Lay Out a Garden

I’m going to start this discussion on how to lay out a garden by assuming that you already have an identified area that you want to plant. If your backyard landscaping design does not yet include an identified garden design, it may help to review the following links:

• raised bed vegetable gardening
• garden landscape designs
• vegatable gardening

How to lay out a garden – Where’s the sun?

The first thing to notice about your garden plot is how the sun shines over it during the day. Does it pass over it so that each side of the garden gets the same amount of sun? Or does the sun’s path stretch along the length of the garden so that there is a definite ‘front side’ and ‘back side’ to the garden?

The answers to these questions will determine how you lay out your plants. If there is a definite ‘front’ and ‘back’ side to the garden, the tall plants, such as the corn, or a trellis system for vine plants, will go in the back. The middle would house plants such as tomato and peppers, and the front for low growing plants such as lettuce and spinach. In this design, I would place plants such as zucchini or pumpkin off to the sides as they will grow quickly, and need a good amount of space.

For gardens that have an equal amount of sun, taller plants can be centered, with progressively smaller plants radiating out to the sides.

How to lay out a garden – Number and types of plants?

Garden vegetables are fairly easy to grow and maintain as long as there is AT LEAST 6 hours of sun provided and a sufficient water supply. There are some plants that need to be either grouped together, or separated, for pollination purposes and to get the maximum benefit from each plant.

Be aware of what the label states when you purchase your plants. The sweet corn seed that I purchased from Gurneys Seed and Nursery (opens new window) specifically indicated that there should be at least 2 rows of corn planted together to ensure cross-pollination, and that it should be planted separately from other corn varieties.

If you purchase your plants from a local garden shop, the labels should specifically indicate how they should be planted to ensure maximum production. Vegetables that I have had great success with when planted either in groups or individually, have been:

• tomatos
• zucchini
• lettuce
• peppers
• potatos
• basil
• cilantro
• oregano
• pumpkins
• corn
• carrots

How to lay out a garden – Do you have to protect your garden with a fence or netting?

It definitely depends on what you’re planting! Most of the plants I just listed above will do fine without a garden fence. However, I have had repeated problems with corn – as soon as the ears start showing, someone from the wild is quick to rip them down. I’m assuming it’s the squirrels, but rabbits are pretty destructive too!

Pumpkins have always grown well for me, UP UNTIL the point they turn a nice orange color. If I don’t cut them off the stalk by that time, someone (again, from the wild) comes to rip the seeds out of the juicy center. If I cut them off the stalk just before they completely ripen, however, and place them on my front porch, no one bothers them. Go figure!

Berries like raspberries and blackberries should be able to survive the wild, however you will have a hard time growing strawberries without some type of netting draped over the bed. I’ve got a specific method for planting strawberries that seems to work well. I’ll have that info on this site soon.

How to lay out a garden – Do you need to mulch your garden? What about the weeds?

I find that it’s easier for me to take care of my garden on a regular basis if I place a small amount of mulch around. I don’t use anything heavy or inorganic, and usually stick to a light sprinkling of grass clippings. I do this to minimize the amount of weeds that grow, and also to make it easier to walk through – muddy shoes are no fun in the garden!

To deal with weeds in the garden, the garden planting tool that seems to work the best for me, is the hoe. This is a long-handled tool, with a straight edge that’s bent perfectly for hacking away the tops of the weeds. If you do this at least once every 1-2 weeks you should keep the weeds in your garden easily under control.

How to lay out a garden – Do you need to fertilize?

I do not apply any fertilizer during the growing season, although I know that most gardeners do. I personally don’t want any substance on my plants or vegetables even if it is reportedly harmless. My method for fertilizing the garden comes in the form of compost that I add at the beginning of the season. Something kind of alternative that I’ve tried is burying the compost material (before it is composted – like the raw veggie trimmings, coffee grinds, tea bags, etc) directly in the soil several weeks before the planting season begins. The compost enriches the soil and provides a delicious and nutritious bed for the garden plants! Yum!

That’s about it for my tips on how to lay out a garden. I hope that this helps give you a start in your own yard. Remember that when it comes to gardening, there really are no mistakes! Everything is a learning experience...some things will work for you, and others won’t. Whatever you do, enjoy the process!

Have fun exploring all the ways on how to lay out a garden!

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