A good garden design meets the needs of the gardener and their growing environment. It's that simple and I love having my notebook for planning before heading outdoors.
Winter is the perfect season to digest change and implement all my ideas. When you live in zone 8 the goal is almost always to get the hard work done in the cooler months.
For me, I just move faster and can accomplish a lot during this period if I stay focused.
Currently I am in the mix of planning a maze in the garden. This works to keep the deer out and minimize a less spread-out space for chore activity in the summer.
Phase One Plans
To begin, I have been working on phase one for a while, I keep changing the design feeling a little unsettled.
The last change came about by removing five beds in the fall. Then I added three new ones which opened my garden and welcomed the deer.
I love these animals and I couldn't blame them for visiting, but I quickly realized phase one needed to be completed.
I drew my existing layout on graph paper and decided one more bed needed to go.
Removing One Raised Bed
The removal of this bed was an easy decision because as much as I love these cement corners they do not work well with our terrain.
I garden in a swamp; they are always shifting and it drives me nuts.
This activity included moving dirt into one of those new beds I added in the fall.
Look at my soil, isn't it amazing?
Fresh Soil Moved
The soil was fresh and smelled completely wonderful making it super easy to move. I smiled with every scoop because this dirt is what good gardening is all about.
So please never tell me you have a brown thumb because I will probably just go silent and smile.
This little project was pretty quick and once the bed was filled back to the planning notebook I went.
Planning The Phase Two Maze
I kept my design page for phase one and then drew it again with space for expansion.
Phase two was quick to sketch because quantity and size of raised beds was decided ahead of time. Keeping everything spaced correctly was another important detail.
I need room for watering, wheelbarrow navigation and discourage the deer from entering. They do not like confined space which means a maze design works great if you are having deer issues.
There is a lot happening in this garden design and I will share those details as time goes on.
The point is you can have the ideal growing space if you take the time to plan.
In my book, Garden Up Green I have an entire chapter about designing your garden and the key things to look for.
The big three are hours of sunlight, shade and water.
Plan to Grow an Amazing Garden
My plan is to complete this garden maze by next fall, by adding seven more beds giving us a total of fifteen.
I just can't get it all done before spring if I want to do it right.
So, being realistic is my reality.
As my grandmother once said, Rome wasn't built in a day. My garden is no "Rome" but it will be amazing if I keep at it a little bit each week.
Remember to implement ideas that meet your gardening needs and terrain. If a raised bed maze will work for your space, then go for it.
I would like to encourage you to get my garden notebook, it's free and will help you begin planning.
Encouraging Goodness,
Carole West
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