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How to Plan Your First Garden Layout: A Step-by-Step Guide

Written by QSB | December 2, 2024 at 2:00 PM

Starting a garden is an exciting time — you can almost taste those fresh veggies on your table or imagine the colorful flowers brightening up your yard. But, when it comes to actually planning the garden design layout, it can feel a bit overwhelming. 

Don’t worry — our step-by-step guide will help you break down the garden layout planning process into simple steps so you can tackle starting a garden with confidence. 

Step 1: Assess Your Space and Determine Your Garden Type

Before you rush into buying plants or digging up your yard, take a deep breath. One of the biggest mistakes new gardeners make is not properly checking out their space. Maybe your chosen spot gets more shade than you realized, or perhaps the soil doesn't drain well in certain areas. 

Start by really looking at your garden design layout area. Measure it, watch how the sunlight moves through the space during the day, and think about how easily you can access it with a hose or your tools. 

Once you know your space, think about what kind of garden suits it best. Do you want raised beds for easier maintenance? Maybe an in-ground garden if you've got lots of room? Or perhaps your space is limited, and containers will give you more flexibility. It's okay if you're not sure at first. Start small to see what works and what doesn’t. 

If there’s any chance that you may consider adding a greenhouse to your garden design layout, now is the time to make sure that you truly understand the amount of light that your garden — especially the portions inside of a future greenhouse — will get at any given time of day. 

Avoid this Common Mistake: Choosing a Garden Location Without Considering Light

 It's tempting to pick a spot without observing how sunlight and shade affect it. While one area might look better aesthetically on your property, the light will make or break your ability to grow the plants you want to grow. 

Step 2: Plan Your Garden Layout

Now that you've got a handle on your space, it's time to start planning the garden design layout. The good news is that it doesn't have to be perfect, and you can always make changes as you go.

Start by sketching out your garden, either on graph paper or using an app. Don't forget to leave room for pathways! It might seem tempting to pack your plants in tightly to maximize space, but having enough room to walk between them makes both planting and ongoing maintenance so much easier.

Also, consider adding a small garden shed to your layout. There's nothing more frustrating than dragging tools, hoses, and soil across the yard every time you want to tend to your garden. Placing a shed nearby gives you a central hub for all your gardening needs, so everything is within arm's reach when you need it.

Avoid this Common Mistake: Skipping Designated Pathways

Sure, you can tromp through your garden every time you need to get to a stubborn weed or hard-to-water corner, but adding pathways from the start will save you time and frustration for the whole season. 

Step 3: Choose the Right Plants for Your Space

This is the part where new gardeners often feel particularly overwhelmed: picking the right plants. You might be excited to grow everything from tomatoes to sunflowers, but not all plants play well together.

There are two main ways to make sure that you are placing your plants strategically in your new garden design layout. 

Plant Similar Plants Together

Consider the watering, fertilizing, and sun needs of your plants, and consider planting ones with similar necessary conditions together. This will allow you to think less about what plant requires which conditions because they’re neatly grouped. You’ll lower your risk of over-watering or under-watering or using the wrong fertilizer when the plants in each area need similar care. 

Some examples of similar plants include: 

  • Tomatoes, Basil, Marigolds (full sun, medium water, regular fertilization)
  • Carrots, Onions, Nasturtiums (full sun, low water, light fertilization)
  • Cucumbers, Beans, Zinnias (full sun, medium water, regular fertilization)
  • Lavender, Rosemary, Echinacea (full sun, low water, no fertilizer)
  • Corn, Squash, Cosmos (full sun, medium water, regular fertilization)

Companion Planting

Companion planting, however, is almost the opposite idea. While some plants require similar care, others benefit from being planted next to one another for various reasons. 

  • Tomatoes and Basil: Basil helps repel tomato pests like aphids and improves the flavor of tomatoes.
  • Carrots and Onions: Onions help deter carrot flies, while carrots aerate the soil for onions.
  • Cucumbers and Radishes: Radishes repel cucumber beetles, making them a natural pest deterrent.
  • Marigolds and Broccoli: Marigolds repel pests like cabbage moths and aphids that target broccoli.
  • Strawberries and Borage: Borage attracts pollinators and strengthens strawberry plants, improving fruit yield.

Avoid this Common Mistake: Disregarding Plant Size and Spacing

An overcrowded garden can stunt growth and make plants more susceptible to disease, so make sure that you consider adequate spacing and mature plant size before putting any plants in the ground. 

Step 4: Optimize Your Garden with Vertical and Compact Growing Solutions

If space is a premium in your yard (or on a balcony or patio) Vertical gardening is a great way to fit more into your garden without overcrowding. Trellises, hanging baskets, or even wall planters can allow you to grow vining plants like cucumbers or peas upward instead of letting them sprawl on the ground. This not only saves space but also makes harvesting easier.

Another way to get creative with small spaces is container gardening. Containers give you the flexibility to move plants around as needed — whether you're chasing the sun or rearranging your layout. 

Avoid this Common Mistake: Ignoring Vertical Space

Don't forget you can grow upwards to maximize your garden area. Particularly in small spaces or urban areas, vertical space might be all you have to work with, so make the most of it! 

Step 5: Create a Seasonal Planting Plan

One of the frustrations for new gardeners is planting everything at once and then dealing with gaps in the garden after the first harvest. To keep your garden producing throughout the year, plan your planting in stages.

Start with cool-weather crops in early spring, then transition to heat-loving plants in the summer. In the fall, you can plant crops like carrots or kale that thrive in cooler weather.

If you add a greenhouse to your setup, it can help extend your growing season even further. A greenhouse provides you with a protected space to start seedlings earlier in the season or to continue gardening outdoors despite dropping winter temperatures. Either way, a greenhouse gives you a longer season and a higher yield even for a first-time gardener. 

Avoid this Common Mistake: Planting Everything at Once

When you plant your entire garden for one season, it can lead to overwhelming harvests and then seasons with nothing to harvest. Stagger your planting for continuous produce and a more stable pace of planting and harvesting all season long.

Step 6: Best Practices for Soil Preparation and Maintenance

Soil is one of those things that's easy to overlook, but it's worth the effort. If you plant without knowing the quality of your soil, you could run into problems with growth, disease, or poor drainage.

Start by testing your soil's pH and nutrient levels. You don't need to be an expert here. Simple at-home kits can give you a lot of useful information. From there, you can amend the soil with compost, organic matter, or specific nutrients to make sure your plants have the best chance at success.

Mulching is another important tip that many new gardeners forget about. It helps retain moisture, keeps weeds down, and can improve the overall health of your soil. If you're composting, even better! Composting is a sustainable way to keep your soil rich in nutrients, and it reduces waste at the same time.

Avoid this Common Mistake: Skipping Soil Testing

Poor soil can lead to weak plants, and a little effort up front can make a big difference. Some quick testing can help your garden’s harvest exponentially. 

Step 7: Your Garden Storage Matters — Choose Wisely

Keeping your gardening tools and supplies within easy reach can make all the difference in maintaining a well-organized and productive garden. A well-planned garden shed can become your central hub for all things gardening. 

Start by organizing your shed with shelves, tool racks, and a workspace where you can plan out your garden layout and make adjustments as needed. Use it as a space to record plant progress, store seeds, and even prepare for upcoming planting seasons.

Your garden shed can also be a convenient space to take breaks during long gardening sessions. With your tools neatly organized and close by, you’ll spend less time running back and forth to the house or garage, and more time focusing on your plants.

Avoid this Common Mistake: Underestimating Convenient Storage

Without a nearby place to keep tools, you might be less inclined to maintain your garden regularly, or worse, more inclined to leave your equipment exposed to the elements, leading to faster wear and tear. 

Start Planning Your Dream Garden Design Layout Today

Planning your first garden layout doesn't have to be scary, even if it feels that way at first. Start small, give yourself permission to make mistakes, and remember that gardening is a process. Don’t the power of a well-placed garden shed to keep everything organized and make your gardening life easier.

Ready to dive in? Explore garden shed options and start designing your perfect garden today.