- 1). Draw a map of the area you have available for planting. Include details such as the shady area below a large tree that’s bare or taken by weeds. Measure the yard and use graph paper to make the map to scale, where each square equals 1 foot of your garden, for instance.
- 2). List the measurement of structures that will reduce the size of your planting area, such as borders and paths. Adjust your map accordingly. Now you know how much space for cultivating you have.
- 3). Create a legend to label specific areas of your garden on the map you drew. Use letters as in A, B, C, etc. Or be specific: “Butterfly Area,” “Shrubs,” “Annuals” and so on.
- 4). Decide what to keep and what to remove from your present garden. Also, you may want to simply improve the state of some plants. For example, an old shrub may need hard pruning for rejuvenation; some bulbs might need dividing. Make notes of your plans for what’s currently growing in your landscape.
- 5). Take a day to observe the lighting in your garden. Note which areas are exposed to full sun and where the shade is. This information will help you with plant placement.
- 6). List the function of each area of your landscape. If there’s an area where children play, keep thorny plants away and cover the ground with hardy turf, for example.
- 7). Make a plant list, matching your preferences to the size and light conditions of your garden bed. In addition, use each plant's space requirement to place it in your garden, consulting your garden map's scale.
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