Find the Perfect Garden Spot in 6 Easy Steps

Your garden location is really important; here are a few ideas to help you find the perfect garden spot!

All plants, flowers, and vegetables need certain elements to grow well and to be productive. Taking the time to research your best garden spot is time well spent.

HOW TO FIND THE PERFECT GARDEN SPOT

We learned the hard way what not to do when looking for a good place to put our garden.

After having tree roots and bushes invade our beautiful garden location, we had to step back and evaluate where we went wrong.

There are a number of things to consider when planning your garden.

Reviewing the 6 Steps on How to Find the Perfect Garden Spot first will help save a lot of headaches..

Vegetables need a few things to grow well. They thrive when you consider these six basic conditions.

Looking at these factors early will help you create a successful garden.

1. Sunshine
2. Water
3. Wind Protection
4. Good Soil with Good Drainage
5. Keeping Animals Out
6. Fencing
7. Large Garden Areas

#1 Plenty of Sunshine

Most plants need at least 6 hours of full sunlight each day. They thrive even more with 8 hours, but 6 hours is the minimum.

When choosing a garden spot, look for an area that gets 6 hours of full sun.

Morning sun is great because it’s not too hot and helps your vegetables wake up gently.

Some vegetables can grow in partial sun or shade, but sunshine is still the most important factor for your garden.

#2 Water and Watering:

You need a good source of water.

Water is essential for a successful garden. All plants need enough moisture to thrive.

You can get water from different sources, but it should be easy to access.

• The easiest way to water your garden is with natural rainwater. You can collect it in a Deluxe Rain Barrel
• Irrigation water needs careful monitoring for flow and application in the garden.
• You can use a Snip-n-Spray Garden and Landscape Sprinkler System
• A drip system like the Snip-n-Drip Soaker Hose System, is also an option.
• I also use manual sprinklers like the Hi-Rise Sprinkler . The sprinkle has no moving parts and is very durable. I have three of these sprinklers that I connect with shutoff valves to water different parts of my garden at different times. 

THE BASIC WATERING RULE:

Plants need about 1 inch of water each week. In dry areas, add an extra 1/2 inch for every 10 degrees above 60. You should consider several factors when using this rule.

SOIL TYPES:

• For sandy soil, plan to give more water and work on improving it to a loamy type.
• For heavy clay soil, use less water and add peat moss, compost, and sand to create a loamy soil.

#3 Wind Protection:

• Protecting your garden from wind is crucial.
• Strong winds can dry out plant leaves and stress them during growing periods.
• Reducing wind exposure can boost your garden’s productivity. Use fencing to help shield your plants.

Important Considerations to Protect Your Garden

• Slatted Snow Fence is easy to install and very reliable plus relatively inexpensive
• Plastic Fencing is lightweight and is also easy to install, relatively inexpensive alternative but not very permanent. This has free shipping.
• Wooden Fencing is a great more permanent solution
• Garden Structures such as greenhouses or garden sheds can be placed strategically to protect your garden area for direct winds
• 4″ x 4″ Wire Fence can act like a Trellis for peas or climbing plants as well as provide a wind break for more sensitive vegetables
• Or, try a more natural product like, Willow Fencing.

#4 Soils:

This is an important step.

Soil quality is extremely important when picking a great garden location, but it is also something that can be created by adding soil amendments that increase overall soil quality.

Doing a quick soil test plus adding soil amendments will greatly improve your garden’s overall productivity. Building your garden soil is an ongoing project that you will do every year.

Try this inexpensive, simple soil pH test kit to determine the acidity or alkalinity of your garden soil.

 DIY SOIL pH TEST:

Make sure to do a pH test on your soil. Here is a quick DIY pH soil test that you can do at home. If you have more complex soil issues, make sure to contact your local Soil Conservation Office for further assistance.

pH SOIL PROBLEMS AND QUICK FIXES:

• Alkaline Soil: add Peat Moss as it will lower the pH  plus Peat Moss adds volume to the soil creating more loam for a loamier type soil that allows some air circulation.  Loamy type soils also have more capacity to retain water and drain water better.  Use a Rototiller or simply dig the Peat Moss into the dirt with a garden fork.
• Acid Soil: add wood ash from your wood stove or oyster shell which is available from your local feed store.
• Find out more about top soil, loam, garden soil and compost!
• You can even make your own compost from leftover yard and kitchen waste!

Heavy Clay Soil are usually rich in nutrients but this type of soil needs added sand to break up the clumps of fine clay particles that stick together to make your so more loamy and more plant friendly.

“EXPERIMENT”

To check if you have clay soil, take a handful of dirt and rub it between your fingers.

If the soil crumbles and doesn’t stick, you don’t have heavy clay soil. If it forms a ball like modeling clay, then you do have heavy clay.

To improve the soil, mix in sand, compost, and rotten manure. You can also plant a cover crop for “green manure.” This helps break up the heavy clay and can be tilled into the garden later.

Sandy soil needs more organic material like compost and rotten manure.

Add about 1 inch of compost and manure to the entire garden area and mix it into the soil.

RELATED POST: from my friend Susan at A Country Garden Journal: PLANTING LOCATION FOR FRUIT TREES

FOR FURTHER EDUCATIONAL READING: The New Organic Gardner

Read about mulching to help your garden. Mulch improves soil structure, keeps weeds down, and retains moisture.

Using mulch is great for creating healthy soil. Just be careful of nitrogen shortages in your plants.

As wood chips or other organic matter decompose, they can take nitrogen from the soil. Nitrogen is one of the three essential nutrients for gardening.

Nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) are crucial for strong plants.

An All-Purpose Organic Fertilizer is a great way to insure your garden is getting the needed nutrients.

Look for something that had soil matter along with the nutrients. This is especially important as you work on building your garden soil.

#5 Animals:

Consider wild and domestic animals when choosing your garden location.

Both types of animals can destroy your vegetable garden. For example, imagine horses trampling over your lettuce and tomatoes—we learned this the hard way!

Animals like rabbits, mice, ground squirrels, robins, deer, moose, snakes, raccoons, and skunks often see your garden as a tasty meal.

It’s frustrating to see your hard work ruined overnight. Planning ahead can save you a lot of trouble. This step goes hand in hand with fencing.

#6 Fencing:

Good fencing is crucial for protecting your garden from wind and animals.

Fencing is essential for keeping your garden safe. It helps shield against both wind and wildlife.

You can find many practical and attractive fencing ideas. For instance, willow fencing combines beauty and function.

Willow fencing protects against wind and keeps animals out of your vegetable garden. It also prevents dogs and cats from digging in your soil, which is important since cats might use it as a litter box!

#7 Large Garden Areas:

If you have a large garden area, then you might need a more economical form of fencing. We have used hog panels and horse panels to keep out large livestock.

If you have a deer population, you might need a 6-foot fence, which can be achieved with post and wire.

We have also had great success with livestock panel that we have used as horse corrals. These are movable panels that can be taken down and moved if need be.

They come in various dimensions, so they are easy to use. If you have a rabbit problem, then simply run chicken wire or some other type of wire around the bottom of your panels.

Also, consider some type of automatic sprinkler with a motion sensor!!! These can scare away any nighttime intruders in your garden.

These sprinklers also water your plants at the same time, so it’s a great deal!

In Summary:

Finding the best spot for your garden means being smart about where to plant it. Choose a location that is: close enough to make it easy to get to and easy to water to make your garden enjoyable and productive!

You May Also Enjoy: Store Your Garden Carrots in Peat Moss for the Winter

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