Winter is a Great Time to Plan Your Summer Garden

The holidays are full of planning, work, stress and fun with family and friends, but once they are over and life returns to normal it is the best time to begin planning your summer garden. January 1^st is a great time to sit down with pen and paper and start your garden and seed list.

Start with garden size and what needs to be done to create or improve your chosen site. You will need to consider the location for southern sun exposure and location for plants that require only partial sunlight. List what size you want your garden to be, if you are going to create an in ground garden, or a raised bed garden.

Once you have decided on location, size, and type you need to list what material you will need. What type of boards or border are you going to use for raised bed and in ground. Where you can buy it new or get it used and for no cost. The more you save on creation of space the more you can spend on your garden or save on final cost.

Next decide what you are going to grow. A vegetable garden is the most popular. Choose to grow only vegetables your family will eat. If you grow items no one likes you are wasting time, effort, and produce. Fruit for the family is also very popular and a very healthy way to promote good eating habits.

If you are going to grow flowers choose a variety that grows well in your area. You can group them in type or color. If they are for eye appeal your garden will need to be located in a high traffic area of your yard. If you are growing them for your own use and to decorate you indoor living space once they bloom you can choose the best growing area for full blooms.

When you grow flowers there are many times when you have more than you need. Be a good neighbor and share a beautiful bunch with a smile. Consider delivering flowers to a convalescent home for the bed ridden. It is a simple way to bring happiness to those who cannot go outside on their own anymore.

List the seeds you would like for your garden then go over your list and mark off the ones you really don't want to invest the time and work in. You can find online suppliers and packets of your favorite seeds are nurseries, home improvement stores, or share among friends. Do not order more than you are going to use. They will end up sitting in a drawer.

Inventory all your gardening equipment and add what you need to buy new. This is a good way to track the cost you will need to complete your gardening projects. Any gardening tool you own will work for most gardens and you can invest in used tools to save on cost.

By the time you are ready to order you'll still have plenty of winter to enjoy in front of the fireplace with a cup of cocoa and all your seed packets. Enjoy your time planning so when the real work starts you have great memories of a pleasant winter.