Planning the Garden

1
Planning the Garden

• Introduction
• Garden is a personal place
• If you are a beginning gardener, start with a
  _____________ space
• A small garden well tended is much more
  satisfying than a large neglected one.

2
How To Get Started

• Select a _________ for a garden
• Locate existing features
• List desired items
• Draw a _________
• Prepare the site

3
Selecting a garden site

• Explore your options
• What land do you have available?
• Your options are limited by available land
• Solo garden or __________________ garden?
• In-ground or container garden?
• ________________ factors will influence the
  microclimate
• Microclimate influences vegetable plantings

4
Examples of microclimate effects

• _____________ determine length of growing season
• Low-lying areas (called frost pockets) - frosts
  occur later in spring and earlier in fall
• ____________ air flows down hills and collects in
  valleys
• Restricted air flow traps cold air
• Avoid ______________ or evergreen trees on
  downhill side of garden

5
Examples of microclimate effects

• Soil texture class determines drainage,
  ________________ holding capacity and ability to
  work soil
• Soil particles
• Clay - Smallest particle size and poorest
  drainage
• Silt
• Sand - Largest particle size and best drainage
• Causes of poor drainage
• ___________________ layer of soil
• Compacted topsoil
• Soils dominated by ______________ particles

6
Example soil texture class

• Ways to improve soil drainage
• Add ___________ matter
• Binds soil particles together
• Drainage systems
• ________________ PVC pipe buried in soil
• Raised beds
• Raise planting beds above ground level

7
Locate existing features

• May indicate problems that need to be addressed
• Vegetable gardens are best in full sun for at
  least ________ hours
• Poorly drained areas should be avoided or
  improved
• Existing ____________ should be incorporated into
  the design

8
List desired items

• Will determine the design of your garden and its
  utility
• Consider location, your budget,
  _________________________ of the garden, and
  plants desired
• In Illinois heavy soils solid-surfaced
  ________________________ and raised beds should
  be considered if permanent site

9
List desired items

• Desired items may include
• Pathways
• Raised beds
• _________________
• Compost bins
• Benches
• __________ features

10
Garden Design

• Elements to consider
• ________________
• How can you utilize the available space the best
• Convenience
• Located near residence
• Easy access to ________
• Beauty
• Structure
• _________________
• Focal point
• Fits the environment

11
Garden Design

• Example Kitchen gardens
• -Purpose is to supply food for the kitchen
• -Find in all cultures, traditions and gardening
  styles
• -Often include ___________ and ornamental plants
• -Size and design depend on need, location, and
  _______________________

12
Garden Design

• Four-square design
• Tradition goes back to _______________ cottage
  gardens of 12th century
• Allow for easy cultivation and ________________
• Components
• Equal sized ___________________
• Solid surfaced pathways two pathways with one
  traditionally running from garden gate to house
• __________________ beds
• An enclosure creates feel of outdoor room
• Access to _________________

13
Prepare the site

• Using ___________ and a measuring tape stake out
  the garden
• Use 3 by 4 by 5 right triangle to have
  perpendicular sides
• Remove __________ or other vegetation
• May want to use nonselective herbicide
• Want to prevent __________________

14
Prepare the site

• Can use shovel, __________, or tractor to turn
  the soil
• Good time to add soil amendments and
  ___________________
• _____________ digging
• Traditional soil preparation method where a
  trench is dug and soil dug from trench