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Gardening is a hobby that brings joy, entertainment,
and a better quality of life. It is a creative activity,
the result of which is a more aesthetically appealing
home.
Thoughtful planning of a garden
starts with the type of garden you would like to have.
Deciding on a type of garden is essential defore choosing
which design elements to include. Will your garden be
just a place to plant a bunch of flowers, which will
blossom only during the growing season? Or would you
rather have a thoughtfully-chosen herb garden? Or maybe
just a vegetable plot?
Another issue to consider is
the climate in your location. It can be surprising how
little we know about the facts, figures and statistics
of the weather where we live. You may want to consult
an online map to get statistical data regarding climate
elements like rainfall per month or average temperatures.
The next step, after having decided
about the type of garden and after investigating the
local climate, is to figure out the plants that you
would like to grow in your garden. Think of plants that
are suitable for the duration of the growing season
in your location and that will survive the changes in
temperature, typical for your location.
The thoughtful planning of a
garden involves one more factor to consider - how much
shade is necessary for each of the plants. You need
to make sure that there is enough light all over the
places you plan to plant your garden.
When you have finished with planning
in theory, it is time to start planning the plots in
your garden. Again, think for a good plan - one that
brings joy, is easy to keep to, and at the same time
efficiently uses the available space.
Think about where to place plants
that require a lot of sunlight. The best place for such
plants is away from buildings and taller trees because
these block the light at daytime.
Deciding which plants to grow
near the house, and which should be in the open also
requires some thought. If you prefer the sunshine streaming
through your windows, then you are best not to have
bulky trees or bushes near the house, where they will
block the sunlight.
If you have decided that you
will be growing herbs and vegetables, the best place
for them is near the house. When they are near the house,
it is more likely that you will be using them for cooking.
Besides convenience, you should also think about the
location of vegetables as far as their needs for sunlight
are concerned. This is especially true if yours is mainly
a vegetable garden.
Last, but not least, take into
account your personal preferences, when designing a
garden. If there are particular extras you would like
to have, for instance winding pathways or gazebos, include
them in the initial design of the garden. Your outdoor
garden is constrained only by the limits of your creativity
and the growing season in your location.
David Kurshel is the webmaster
of BIO
Gardening -- a popular and extensive resource including
articles and a newsletter about gardening. For more
information, go to: http://www.biogardening.com
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