When using garden planning worksheets, you can ensure a successful garden that will satisfy your every desire and by the envy of the entire neighborhood. Planning is a big part of designing a garden, as special consideration must be paid to every detail, from watering to soil preferences to sunlight exposure and everything in between. Below, find downloadable worksheets to ensure plants thrive in their ideal environments.

1. Seed starting schedule: Start plants from seeds at their ideal times to get a head start on the season in an economical way.

2. Garden wish list: This will ensure you have every beloved plant or flower growing in your garden. Perfect as a record for future purchases, especially if budget does not allow for all of them at one particular time.

3. Garden notes: A must-have worksheet to keep records on the condition of plants, helping to correct any mistakes.

4. Description of plants: This worksheet can take all the guesswork out of gardening so that you know exactly which plants are growing and where.

5. Daily outdoor journal: The journal will ensure that plants thrive. Any problems can be quickly identified and remedied.

6. Future garden reference: Use this worksheet for your future plantings.

7. Garden chore list: Nothing will ever go wrong if you use your chore list and stay on top of your plants’ needs. Plus, it will always be neat and without weeds.

8. Garden contacts: A great way to stay organized with names and phone numbers of other knowledgeable gardening enthusiasts.

Righ Click on the link and “Save Target As” to download: Garden Planning Worksheets

Here is a peek at what is inside the PDF File:

Now that warmer weather is here, you can be expected to be bombarded by advertisements for chemical products to kill weeds or fertilize your plants. Maybe you don’t want to use chemicals on your garden because you feel natural garden care is best. By using natural products, you not only help protect the environment but you’re also doing your best to take care of your children. [Read more...]

There is some debate as to what is considered a native plant. Some people in the US think they’re plants that were growing on the continent before the arrival of Europeans or people from any other continent. But a broader definition accepted by others is any plant that grows naturally in an area without human interaction. Either way, a native plant is not an exotic plant that has been introduced to the area and has taken over and choked out other species, or one requires constant attention and resources to get it to grow.

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On the whole, native plants require less care from us. They’re native to the area and have adapted to living off the native soil. The exception is when you first bring them into your garden as transplants. They do require care until they’re established, and after that they’re fine. Starting them from seeds means they’ll establish themselves as they grow.

Native plants are able to handle the area’s weather. They can survive extreme weather conditions such as hot dry summers and cold snowy winters. They have adapted to the normal amount of available groundwater or rainfall. In other words, you don’t have to constantly water these plants and that’s a relief to your water bill and less time spent in the garden.

Another benefit to planting local species is their ability to resist local pests and diseases. They thrive and are healthy, naturally. And for you this means cutting down and hopefully eliminating pesticide usage, which is, of course, better for everyone’s health and wellbeing.

Another benefit of these natural plantings is they can help slow down erosion. This is particularly true for riverbanks, cliff tops, wetlands, ocean shores and your storm drains.

These reasons save us time, money, and frustration for sure, but there are also reasons to plant native that include the birds, bees and wildlife. They depend on native species for food and shelter, plus the chance to pollinate. In addition, the plants provide wildlife protection from predators. The plants and the wildlife help make up our ecosystem and make for a healthier, well-rounded environment.

When you include native plants and grasses in your garden, you have vegetation that is not invasive, but rather fits seamlessly in the landscape, looking perfectly at home. You are also contributing to diversity and preserving various species of vegetation and the animals that depend on it for their habitat.

These are all good reasons to “go native” with your plantings. Remember native plants when you plan your garden and keep in mind it doesn’t have to be all or nothing.

The Christmas tree has become a norm during the Christmas holidays. Most people celebrate this special day around their Christmas trees and there they perform the traditional gift-giving activity. For some, Christmas would not be complete without a tree to decorate on. But rather than a cut one, why not try a living Christmas tree? You would not only feel the presence of this holiday but you get to conserve mother Earth and help the environment. Moreover, growing, nurturing and maintaining this type of plant is not complicated at all. It is just like you are taking care of a typical houseplant. Here are some of the few tips you might need in your potted Christmas tree care.

First you must introduce your plant both to you indoor and outdoor environment. It must feel the warm sunshine outside even for a short while to begin its growth. You may expose it on your lawn and afterwards place it on the garage or the porch. Before bringing the tree indoors, check it for insects or other bugs to ensure its health. When moved indoors, place it in a large incited tub that will help stabilize the pot and maintain water in place. Use bricks or rocks to stabilize the tree in a straight and vertical pose. Place it in a cool area, away from the sunny places including the windows.

One more factor to consider in potted Christmas tree care is the water. As for the water requirements, you must always keep the roots of the plant moist. This may be enhanced by adding up mulch into the soil to preserve moisture longer. But nevertheless, pay careful attention with over watering the plant because its roots may tend to become soggy when watered too much.

Now that you have your own living Christmas tree inside your home, you may start decorating it for a festive holiday season. Gather around the tree with your family and hang pieces of ornaments, stars, angels and other Christmas decorations that will help hype up the spirit of Christmas in your home. You may also add in Christmas lights but make sure that it gives off as less heat as possible.

Now, pay attention to this: the tree should not be kept inside the house longer than ten days. Once it gets accustomed living inside the warmth of your home, it may not survive the chill of the winter outside. Therefore time placing your tree inside your home. Once it serves its purpose for your holidays, you need to take it out of the house and plant it somewhere, either your lawn or at the forest. But if you are going to plant it in your home turf, it is advised that you dig the spot where you are supposed plant it before snow accumulates thick enough that you would not be able to dig anymore. Moreover, you must not expose it to abruptly shifting temperatures. You must again gradually introduce it to the chilling wind.

So you now know the essentials in potted Christmas tree care. What are you waiting for? Plan your Christmas tree plan ahead of time and celebrate Christmas with it.

While things are winding down in the fall, there are still some gardening tips and strategies that you can employ. You can add some color and life to your garden, and prepare it for winter. Depending on where you live, fall can be a busy time in the garden. Here are some tips.

Color

Fall is a colorful season, and you can add some of that color to your garden this time of year. Chrysanthemums (mums) come in a variety of yellows, bronzes, reds, and purples. Fall is the time to plant these and take advantage of the season’s colors. It’s worth noting, however, that mums will return each year – they’re perennials. So take that into consideration as you decide on their placement in your garden.

Get the Weeds before They Seed

Fall is the time when many weeds go to seed, sending the makings of next year’s invasion all over your yard. Thankfully, fall can be a rainy time, and wet soil is easier to pull or hoe weeds out of than dry soil. You’ll thank yourself next spring when the weeds are fewer.

Another word about weed control in the fall – you can lay down several layers of newspaper on your garden once the plants are spent. Anchor the newspapers with rocks or soil and, by the time spring arrives, the weeds will have been deprived of the light and air they need to sprout. The newspaper will decompose and can be tilled into the soil to enrich it, and another layer applied in the spring before planting (poke holes in the newspaper layer to plant).

Pests’ Hiding Places

Remove the dead leaves and spent plants from your garden before winter sets in. Many invasive and annoying pests overwinter beneath leaves, boards, tools, and anything else left lying on the ground.

However, some gardeners like to leave a layer of autumn leaves on their garden to act as a mulch and compost in one. So depending on what kind of pests you have in your area and how cold it gets, leaving the leaves may work for you.

Plant Bulbs

There are a variety of bulbs that need to be planted in the fall. If you grow garlic, it will need to be put into the garden in the fall. Flowers like hyacinths and daffodils are typically planted in the fall so they can complete their growth cycle in time to come up in spring.

Trees and Shrubs

Now is a good time to prune back trees and shrubs, including shrub roses. It’s also a good time to plant them. In the fall, trees and shrubs are in a dormant state, and the planting and pruning are less shocking to the plant.

Taking some time to prepare your garden for winter may make for an easier time in the spring. As the days get shorter and the cold sets in, it’s time to get your garden ready for its long winter’s nap. Here are some ideas as to how to do that.

1. Prepare for Pests and Diseases

While freezing winter temperatures kill many insects, many of them are just lying low in dormancy. Insects, after all, have been surviving year after year for millions of years! Plant diseases, too, may seem to be vanquished only to reappear in the warmth of spring. So prepare your garden in order to decrease pests and diseases next year.

Remove dead plant matter, as this can harbor insect eggs and fungal spores. For annuals and vegetables, remove the entire dead plant; for perennials, cut them back to several inches above the soil.

Remove any other plant matter that does not belong – dead leaves (insects love to overwinter under leaves), weeds, and tree fall-out.

2. Compost

Work some compost, hummus, or other organic material into the soil. If you have chickens, let them roam in the garden area and leave their little “gifts.” Over the winter, the manure will break down and be ready for spring planting.

Green fertilizer – or a cover crop – is another option. Rye, winter wheat, red clover, and/or rapeseed can be planted over your garden as each bed dies back. In spring, these crops can be tilled under to enrich the soil.

3. Mulch

Many gardeners take the time to mulch in the fall. This protects roots against freezing temperatures and, if using cedar mulch, discourages pests. Mulch also holds in moisture during a season when most gardeners do not think to water. You can use chopped leaves or the needles and boughs of evergreens. It’s a great way to use your old Christmas tree if frost comes late in your area, or if you need additional mulch protection later in the season.

Covering the garden with newspaper and weighting it down with rocks is another possible approach to protecting the soil and perennials. Cut slits in the newspaper around the perennials. This prevents winter weeds and discourages pests. The newspaper breaks down and makes excellent worm food when it’s tilled under in the spring.

4. Trees and Shrubs

Fall is a good time to cut back trees and shrubs that need hard pruning – just make sure it’s late enough in the season that new growth won’t start. If you apply pesticides, consider a systemic pesticide that can be applied to the roots of your trees and shrubs so that the plants will be “armed” when spring comes.

 

Water is a precious resource. All living things need it, and in the summer it can become scarce. Gardens can use up a lot of water in the heat, especially if you’re growing fruits and vegetables. Here are some ideas on how you can save water in your garden this summer.

Rain Barrel

If you can invest in a rain barrel, it can end up saving you a lot of water. Rain barrels connect to your home’s downspout, filling more quickly than you might think! A rain barrel can provide hundreds of gallons of rain water that you can tap into when the rain is not so frequent. Plants also tend to thrive when given rain water.

Sunken Garden

A sunken garden is a garden that is set into the ground. Typically, a large area is dug out and the garden planted within the sunken area. Rain water collects in this natural reservoir rather than running off as it would in raised or sloped beds. (You can also put raised beds within the sunken garden.)

Drought-Resistant Plants

Consider replacing your conventional garden plants with drought-resistant ones. They require a lot less water to look attractive. Clover is a nice addition to a yard or garden. It takes little water and adds nitrogen to the soil. Both red and white clovers also attract bees.

Also, you might want to consider native plants in your garden. Natives have centuries of experience in surviving your local area’s weather conditions, and native plants tend to require much less watering and maintenance overall.

Soaker Hoses

Rather than using a sprinkler system, sources suggest soaker hoses for better water conservation. These porous hoses lie on the ground and are arranged around the plants’ bases.

Soaker hoses deliver a slow, steady supply of water directly to the roots rather than spraying water all over the leaves and surrounding area. This helps cut back on water loss due to evaporation, and it also tends to use less water since plants receive the water directly at the roots and get what they need sooner (less is wasted).

Mulch

Applying mulch to your garden helps retain moisture and keep plant roots cool.

Compost

Working a lot of compost into the garden’s soil helps improve the overall condition of the soil, which helps retain moisture and provide nutrients. Strong, well-fed plants tend to require a lot less water than those in poor soil.

If you don’t know what the term “hardscape” means, you’re not alone. Lots of people, mostly those who haven’t had a lot of gardening experience or who have never had their own yard, are unfamiliar with the term. It actually refers to the parts of your landscape that are “hard”, such as concrete paths, decks, patios, retaining walls, gazebos, and other structures.

When planning your garden, starting with the hardscape makes perfect sense. You have a defined space to work with and chances are, you’re going to do more than just cover it with a patch of grass.

You’re going to have areas for bushes, trees, and flowers, defined with some sort of hard barrier between them and the grass, right? You’re also going to want a space where you can put outdoor furniture like a table and chairs, so this calls for a patio or deck.

You also might have some issues to resolve because of the slope of your land. Slopes can call for retaining walls and there are different materials to choose from depending on your needs and the look you like.

Maybe you’re lucky enough to include a swimming pool or hot tub in your landscaping plans. You might also want an area for a play structure for the kids. These will be a big part of your hardscape planning.

Lastly, you might desire to fence in the whole area or parts of the area, like to keep the dog in or the neighbor’s dog out. Or want lattice work to hide the garbage cans and air conditioning unit, and give yourself privacy.

As you can see, there are many reasons to use hardscapes in your landscape. There are also many different materials involved, and installing them will probably be the biggest, most expensive, and back-breaking part of putting in your yard.

But installing your desired hardscape is the first step, after design, because it’s the skeleton of your garden. You won’t plant flowers until you have that retaining wall in to retain them, and you won’t plant your wisteria until you have a trellis for it to climb up.

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When planning what structures you need and where they go, consider carefully the materials and construction possibilities. Build these to last so you don’t have to build them again.

It becomes infinitely easier to plant your “softscape”, trees, bushes, and flowers, after all the permanent hard structures are in place. Hardscaping helps you to see the whole picture and gives you the actual space left to work with.

When you get ready to make a garden area, proper planning is a must. Without it the project will become much more difficult than it really is. Without proper planning, the finished project may, actually, detract from the beauty of your home instead of enhancing it. Here are some garden design ideas to incorporate into your home garden.

The best way to get ideas for your home garden is to look at other landscaped yards in your neighborhood. Note the ideas that you like, and things you don’t feel comfortable with. Look on internet for ideas and in books in your local library. Pay close attention to the designs, coverings and plants that are used. Each one gives a different aspect to the way the finished project will look.

No matter what you decide to do, always cover the area with a professional weed barrier so you won’t have to constantly battle with weeds in the days and months to come. If you have a small, odd shaped area, use different textures to spark interest. For example: You can use brick for a patio, a natural stone or pea gravel for the walkway and crushed rock in all of the other areas.

Curves are great in any size of space, but when they are used in small spaces they give an illusion of extra space. You can connect the curves or form curves that are parallel to each other. You can connect the small flower and bush spaces by using the same flowers along the edges. Curves create a sense of motion, appeal and flow.

Before you can actually begin the garden, you need to determine what it will be used for. Will it just be for flowers or will there be a sitting area where you can sit and enjoy reading a book or visiting with friends? Will there be pathways that need to be planned? Once the purpose has been determined, it’s time to begin.

It is possible to create a beautiful garden effect just by using pathways that go from different areas to one specific place. For example, you may have two pathways coming off of the street sidewalk from two different directions, and joining in front of the front entry way to the house. Depending on the size of the yard, this can create 3 or 5 spaces for flowers, bushes or trees.

In this type of garden the plant area that is closest to the house and farthest from the road should have a taller tree or bush than the other spaces have so that the eyes are drawn toward the house. This creates height and a focal point in the garden. The other areas should have smaller bushes and flowers. Remember to connect the spaces by using the same flowers or small shrubs around the edges of each section.

Take the time to look and plan exactly what you want your garden to look like before you begin the work. Use the garden design ideas that you have found by looking around your neighborhood and searching the library and internet. When it’s all put together, you will have a garden that will enhance the beauty of your home and raise its value at the same time.

You have worked all spring and summer long to grow your garden with great success. You discover that you cannot possibly use all of the fruits that have sprung up in your garden. No problem – preserve them for future use. You can use different methods to preserve your fruits such as canning, freezing and drying. You can even use a simple recipe and create your own jams, preserves or butters to further indulge in. Best of all, by preserving your fruit you are ensuring that you are not letting all of the labor you put into your garden go to waste.

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Freezing

The easiest way to preserve your fruit is to freeze it and store it for later use. How to freeze your fruit depends on the type of fruit. For berries, drain the berries in a colander for about 30 minutes then lie them on a cookie sheet and stick in the freezer overnight. You can take the berries out the next day and bag them when they are completely frozen.

Melons should be cut out of the rinds and sprinkled with sugar before freezing. The sugar helps to preserve the flavor of the melons. All fruit needs to be placed in a freezer bag or freezer safe container and marked with the date of freeze. Frozen fruit can be kept in the freezer for up to one year.

Canning

Canning is another great way to preserve your fruit. Pick the fruit when it is at its ripest for canning methods. Cut the fruit up and place into canning jars. You do not have to use sugar to sweeten the fruit, but like when freezing melons, using a simple syrup will help keep your canned fruit’s flavor and color.

To make a simple syrup, all you have to do is melt some sugar in water and pour over the fruit in the jar. You then need to give your canned fruit a hot water bath in order to seal the jars.

To give a hot water bath, place your jars in a pan filled halfway with hot water. Once the jars are in place, pour more boiling water over the tops of the jars (with lids on) until they are submerged. Turn on the burner and boil the jars for about 10 minutes or so. Remove the jars and place them on a cooling rack or on a towel on the counter. As the jars cool you will hear a popping sound. This will be the jars sealing. It will take approximately 12 – 24 hours for the jars to complete the sealing process.

Drying

Drying your fruit is another way to preserve it for the winter months. Drying your fruit is a bit more involved than freezing or canning. To dry your fruit, pick ripe fruit as immature fruit will not have any flavor and overripe fruit will dry in a mushy state.

Once you have picked your fruit, cut it into strips to prepare for the drying process. In order to dry fruit, you first need to pre-treat the slices. You can do this by dipping in ascorbic acid (vitamin C), citric acid or lemon juice. Once the slices have been pre-treated, you can use your oven to dry the fruit. This will take between 3 – 36 hours depending upon the size of the slices. Dried fruit should be leathery and pliable to be considered done and a deterrent to microbial growth.

Preserving your summer fruits is a great way to prevent spoilage and waste from your labors in the garden. Pick fruit when they are ripe and depending upon your tastes and effort you can preserve your fruit in different ways. Freezing, canning and drying are all great ways to keep your fruit preserved until you are ready to enjoy them.