Relocating Plants
Relocating Plants
Gardening Around the World – Episode 2 – Sharpen Your Spades
Meet Richard Chivers, or as I like to call him Spades, of “Sharpen your Spades” on Instagram. Spades was one of the first gardeners I followed over a year ago when I first discovered the #gardenersofinstagram family. He is an avid gardener from Wales, the island of Great Britain, just to the west of England. Over the last year I have watched Spades garden page grow to over 23K followers! If one takes a moment to meander his page, there is no doubt why he is so popular. Not only are his photographs beautiful, they are a sea of calm; and the joy Spades has found in gardening is apparent. Join me on this second episode of Gardening Around the World where I am more than happy to have the chance to interview and share Richards joy, along with a bit of his personal insight into the passion he finds in a garden.
Oma: So Spades, tell us a bit about what drew you to Gardening, when did you start?
Spades: Food actually! I’ve always enjoyed cooking and in 2007, almost by 
accident, I grew some tomatoes in a pot in the back garden. When I harvested the fruit later that year I was amazed by the taste and quality. It demonstrated to me that away from the supermarket shelves, there are so many varieties of fruit and vegetables available if you grow your own. I became hooked quite quickly.
Oma: Oh you are totally right about that! I wonder how many of us did that same thing? Accidentally realize how good fresh really is I mean. Because, that’s almost exactly what happened to me! My kids at the time were very little and they had spit some cantaloupe seeds in our yard. When they came up I realized what they were and for fun let them grow right there in the grass in the backyard. It was fun and the best cantaloup I ever had; I was hooked! I had grown up watching my great grandparents garden but I wanted to try more!
Oma: Where is your garden at? Your yard, an allotment or a local coop?
Spades: 
I have an allotment garden a few minutes away from my house. Allotments are (usually) areas of land owned by the local authority that are divided into plots (gardens) for people to rent and grow their own fruit and vegetables. They are fantastic resources and often very generous in size.
Oma: I find it so fascinating that some are so dedicated that they make the time needed to actually go to another place to garden!! Why? Because gardening takes time, and life is busy. To not be able to walk out to my yard and be right there is foreign to me and I find It so wonderful that so many do that.
Oma: Tell us about your journey to get to your space? How long does it take you? Do you drive or ride a train etc?
Spades: 
Luckily my allotment is a 10 minute walk away. If I drive, which I often do when I have plants and tools to take with me, I can be there in 2 minutes. I agree that it’s much more beneficial to have the garden right outside your house; and, I’d love to have that. However, often in cities, garden space comes at a premium which is why I believe allotments are so important to people and their communities and especially in cities and urban areas.
Oma: This is so true. I didn’t even know about allotments before I started my Instagram journey and reading up on gardening around the world. One thing that learning so much about other people who garden has taught me is how blessed all of us are to have spaces to garden especially those that use allotments or coops. Gardening still takes time!
Oma: How do you make the time to garden; how have you overcome your challenges in order to be successful with your allotment space?
Spades: I think whatever your circumstances, making time to garden is important. I work full time and I try to ensure I manage the time I get to spend at the allotment as best I possibly can. This means I always have a plan of what I want to achieve at the allotment each visit. I have two mini greenhouses in the garden at home and I grow nearly all of my crops in soil blocks, trays and plastic pots there. 
This enables me to manage the seedlings close to home and I simply transport them to the allotment when they are ready to be planted out in the ground. I also try to garden in the most efficient way. Time is precious and I want to make it easy and enjoyable to garden.
One way I’ve done this is through no-dig gardening. I’ve learned a lot from Charles Dowding who is a pioneer in no-dig gardening here in the UK. Not only is No-dig better for the soil and therefore the plants, it saves heaps of time in the autumn and winter months which is traditionally the time gardeners break their backs digging the soil over.
Oma: What is the thing you enjoy most about gardening? Spades: Gosh that’s a hard question. Oma: Kinda is right??
Spades: It’s more than one thing. 
Growing food is incredibly rewarding. To nurture a plant from seed to the point that it provides its fruit is a wonderful feeling. It feels worthwhile. Gardening also provides a direct connection with nature and the environment. Something I feel modern society has lost. I know that simply being in the garden is all that I need to relieve stress and to improve my wellbeing.
Oma: Yes, I sometimes wonder what it would be like if we all once again had a Kitchen Garden. That space right outside our kitchen that held our herbs and spices and vegetables. 
From a stress perspective, I think I hear that the most, the stress relief I mean. I used to work in a high impact high stress position. Hours of upwards of 60-70 a week was an often occurrence. Being the weekend gardening warrior was sometimes the only thing that kept my sanity! Gardening is not always easy though.
Oma: What is the thing you like the least about gardening? Spades: Not having as much time as I would like to do it!
Oma: Hahaha yes! We could all use more garden time…. Hey…. that sounds like a sign I need to paint??
Oma: What do you feel is one of the biggest challenges of gardening in your area; and what do you do to overcome this challenge?
Spades: I live in Wales, which is probably the wettest area in the UK. We get a lot of rain. This clearly has benefits and it’s rare for us to suffer in a dry spell (although the climate emergency has clearly changed that as our recent summers have shown) but it can also be challenging. 
I use raised beds and no-dig to ensure the soil I grow in is in the best possible health and structure. The allotments can often flood – especially in winter, but raising beds and not digging or tilling the soil has really made a difference on my plot.
Oma: What is your favorite plant to grow and why?
Spades: That’s difficult too! I like everything I grow which is why I choose to grow it. 
In terms of vegetables I might pick Beetroot and Tomatoes. I enjoy them both and the beets are relatively easy to grow and the tomatoes are just an abundance – you can’t beat the flavour of both when they are home grown and fresh.
Oma: There is just something about the tomato right? Seeing those large beautiful red or orange or green babies; there is so much you can do with them. The funny thing Is they are actually not the easiest plants to grow in all areas but people still go for them. Perhaps that adds to the allure, conquering the challenge and all! Having grown that perfect tomato!
Oma: Do you want to try and grow something new this next season; if yes what?
Spades: I think it’s important to grow something new each year. Not 
necessarily a new crop but perhaps a different variety of a crop you enjoy eating. It’s one of the best things about growing your own food, the varieties are incredible. This year will be some new pepper varieties and I try to pick a new pumpkin or winter squash to grow each year too
Oma: I love that, yes!! Variety is one of the reasons I love 
painting plants so much. Not only are they beautiful, there are so many different kinds of the same plant. Squash for example, or cabbages or lettuce. I can paint them over and over again and always paint something new. Which makes your statement so right on; there is always something to grow and still be within the range of what one likes to eat.
Oma: Who inspires you? If you could meet any gardener you wanted to, who would it be and why?
Spades: I have a few I’d like to meet who have inspired my gardening. I’ve been lucky to meet Charles Dowding twice in the last few years – his books have
been my number one source for growing vegetables on the allotment. I would love to meet Joy Larkcom who I feel like I know through her fantastic books on the subject and I’d really like to meet Eliot Coleman (New Organic Grower).
Oma: Spades, thank you so much for taking the time to talk to a gardener such as me. We gardeners learn so much simply being around or talking to those that love gardening.
For all of you garden lovers out there give Spades a shout out, tell him Oma says hi and visit his blog at sharpenyourspades.com or Instagram: @sharpenyourspades and Twitter: @spadesharp
Health Benefit of Tomatoes
This week I started tomato seeds for the spring garden! I grow them becasuse fresh is best and the health benefit of tomatoes make them even better. However, I just can’t help that my mind does not think of the benefits whenever I grow tomatoes . No, it immediately invisions a fresh BLT, (Bacon Lettuce and Tomato sandwich). I mean, what better health benefit of tomatoes is there then the fact that one can lay a beautiful red slice across a mound of bacon!
The meatless part of me loves them too. Thoughts of red tomatoes lying on top of fresh lettuce smothered with ranch dressing abound. Or, the way they cook into a sauce that can be lavishly spread across noodles, or bread or mixed into peppers for a bight of tomato heat!
There is no doubt one of the benefits of tomatoes is their taste and versatility! After all, they are a main source of Umami, that savory flavor that combines “the five basic tastes of sweetness, sourness, bitterness, and saltiness together in one bite! However, with just a bit of research one will find the health benefit of tomatoes are also numerous. There is so much more to this red, yellow, purple or green beauty than simply their taste!
About the Tomato
The tomato is actually a fruit! This does make sense as tomatoes are full of juice when sliced open. However, the Solanum lycopersicum is most often used as a vegetable. Tomatoes originated from South and Central America, domesticated and cultivated from the indeginious people of Mexico.
The nutrition factors of tomatoes are quite interesting! One of the first things that jumps out when researching their benefits is the amount of water one tomato holds! According to an article on healthline.com they actually consist mainly of water! 95% water; and, that is a lot of water in one portion of food! However, they also contain several nutrients all which help one thrive from a holistic health perspective.
Top health benefit of tomatoes
Vitamin C: One medium tomato could provide as much as 28% of the recommended daily intake of vitamin C. Like Orange Juice in a red piece of candy!
Potassium: I personally feel the benefits of potassium are underrated, it is afterall an electrolyte. According to Healthline potassium is a mineral that produces “positively charged ions,” when dissolved in water. Now, how interesting is that considering 95% of the tomato is in fact water? Potassium dissolves into one’s body acting as, “positive and negative ions” literally conducting electricity as a positive charge helping to regulate fluid, nerve and muscle contractions. Vitamin K1: Important to the bodies ability to create blood clotting and healthy bones!
Vitamin B9: Used for tissue growth and cell functions! Lycopene: That special ingredient that actually makes the tomato red, generally the brighter the color red of the tomato the more Lycopene is present and is strongest in the skin of the tomato. Lycopene is an antioxidant, helpful in keeping the bodies free radical levels in balance and protecting against things like cancer, diabetes, heart disease and Alzheimers. Healthline sighted, “Most red and pink foods contain some lycopene. Tomatoes and foods made with tomatoes are the richest sources of this nutrient.”
Grow Your Own
If one truly wants to appreciate the taste and health of tomatoes one should grow their own. Many of our foods today are sprayed and grocery store tomatoes are often harvested and transported in their green stage making them immature. Food companies can be known to use artificial ethylene gas spray on tomatoes to improve their beautiful red coloring during this immature stage. This process, although good at exposing color, puts a damper on their natural development and hinders the flavor resulting in a more `tasteless” tomato.
Home grown tomatoes give so much flavor to ones recipes. There is afterall a reason us gardeners often say, “it tastes so much better when it’s fresh.” So, the next time you visit the store and see a package of tomato seeds in a tall isle display, grab some for your home garden! Find the health and flavor of fresh grown tomatoes in your own backyard or allotment garden!
Tips for Germinating Peppers
Growing peppers can sometimes be a royal pain. Peppers tend to have some very specific things that need to be done to ensure a clear path to peppery goodness.They can be very sensitive when small and highly subject to root rot if the soil is too moist or too cold. This leads at times to difficult germination. As such, here are a few quick tips for germinating peppers!
Use a Heat mat for germination
Peppers, even most of the sweet or bell peppers, need to have at least a 70° to 85° degree soil temperature to
germinate. I stubbornly refused to get one for years. I do have peppers every year so it’s not a complete loss to go without a mat. However, I struggled with germination on many hot peppers simply because of their strict need for heated soil. Once a mat was obtained results in the number of plants actually germinating improved right away! Vivosun has some very good options for mats. They are also terribly simple to use so highly recommend this gem.
Use Peat pods or well draining soil to germinate seeds
Peppers tend to like moist but not wet soil. This is another area I was a bit stubborn about as I love a soil mix I make myself. This self made mix was perfect for older mature plants however, it was not the best for germinating peppers. Using a heavy soil can lead to no germination, or germination followed by struggling plants due to root rot. Peat pods are simple to find and often come in bags of 50 – 200 or more. I prefer the Jiffy brand!
Keep seeds in an area that allows for humidity while germinating
Peppers need humidity for germination far more than many other seeds grown in one’s garden. As such, make sure and utilize a seed starting dome planter or a greenhouse to control humidity.
Move quickly into a larger pot once germinated and place them in good lighting
Once the seeds have germinated move them off the heat mat, and place them in a larger pot. One where they can spend at least the next 60 days. During this mid life, (where they are not in the ground but still inside) continue to use high draining soil.
When to Start Seeds Indoors – Timing is Everything!
“When do I start my seeds?”
It’s not surprising that this is the question I get the most. After all, there are so many plants, so many time zones, and so many ways to start a seed. Many new timers are confused about when to start, how to start or what to start when it comes to seeds for their garden. This is also not surprising as growing plants from seeds is one of the most natural things a gardener can do! The truth is this a great question! Why? Because, for most time zones there are only so many growing days in the season! One does not want to use the bulk of that time growing their plant, they want to use the bulk of that time harvesting food. Starting seeds indoors, helps ensure this can occur as quickly as possible; and, plants are as strong as can be once they are transplanted outside!
Like several things it often comes down to a few good tips. For me, after three decades of trying, failing, trying and succeeding, those few quick tips have come down to the three “T’s,” Timing, Tools, and Tending! This article will focus on Timing and one of the best ways I have found to determine when it’s time to start ones seeds!
“Is there a Simpler Way”
Beleive it or not knowing when to start your seeds can be quite simple; and, many an issue can be resolved by first gathering three bits of information:
1. Last Frost Date: 
There is usually a spring frost before spring is consistently warm. This last spring frost is known as the “Last Frost Date.” The date in ones area where the last of the cold hits, and the consistent warmth of spring actually starts. There are multiple places on the web to find out where your last frost date is. My favorite is the Farmers Almanac First and Last Frost Dates calander! In most cases, this is the date you can consider starting to plant outdoors!
2. Time to Harvest: 
Time to harvest is litterally the time it takes a plant to actually produce fruit! The grwoth time before your eating your produce! The “Time to Harvest” is most often found on the front or back of a seed packet and can range anywhere from 25 days up to a much as 100 days.
3. Growth Time before Transplanting: The time one wants their plants to have to grow prior to planting them outside. A good range is 30% to 50% of the total “Time to Harvest (2).” The larger percentage of course meaning the plants will be indoors longer.
“Ok so now what?”
So you know your “Last Frost Date”, your “Time to Harvest” and the “Growth Time before Transplanting” now what? Utilize the “Growth Time before Transplanting” and your “Last Frost Date” to back into the seed start date.
For example: Hot Peppers can take up to 100 days before the ‘Time to Harvest” is reached. Targeting 50% of that means the “Growth time before Transplanting” is approximatly 50 days. Lets look at that example using my zones!
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- Last Frost Date in My Zone: April 1
- Time to Harvest for Hot Peppers: 100 Days
- Growth Time Before Planting Outside: 50 Days (50% of Time to Harvest)
- Date to start seeds: February 11
- Seeds would need to be started by February 11th to allow for a “Growth Time before Transplanting” of at lease 50 days (50% of the “Time to Harvest”) by the time I reached my “Last Frost Date”!
There you Go! Now get out there and grow some seeds!
Comming Soon:
How to Grow From Seeds – Tools Are Everything!
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Planning for Spring in Five Steps!
I took a deliberate walk around the gardens this morning. What did I find? Life; little signs of spring, or even better signs of life, all around me. The rebirth of so many things. It’s no wonder so many people feel this is their absolute favorite time of the year. What better time is there for planning and to refresh one’s mind then this new life stage? As Solomon said in his songs, “See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land… Arise, come, my darling; my beautiful one, come with me.”
How can you prepare your existing beds for spring?
For a gardener there is no better time than spring! We plan for it all winter and long for it all summer! Although Fall does offer just as much growth it still seldom rivals the feeling of life we find in spring. Yes, there are a few simple steps we can take to prepare for its greatness!
1) Walk your space
The first step in preparing your existing beds for spring is simply walking your space! Just as I did today grab a nice cup of coffee and walk your gardens. This is not a journey of work but one of discovery!
Your goal here is to simply open your eyes to what life is appearing from last season. Find what is coming back or what needs removed. Most gardens, even if all annuals, will have some sign that it’s time to prep for spring.
2) Look for New growth
Did you have roses, trees, or perennial flowers? Check for signs of green
coming back around the dead growth. For roses those signature bright purplish red leaves that show up in spring or, for fruit trees the small buds starting to form on the branches from last year. Make note where its coming up and also make note of any dead growth left from last season.
3) Look for residual or dead foliage
Look for green coming up around dead foliage from the last season. This is a great sign that your plants are doing well and are as ready for the spring as you are! Notice if there is dead foliage around the new and plan for the best time to start to cut this back .
4) Plan for trimming and clean-up
Most of your plants that return annually will need some kind of trim or clean up. However, don’t be too anxious to do this. More than likely you will see the first signs of life on your walk several weeks before you should clean off the old. For example: I am in Zone 8. My signs of spring most often start to show up towards the end of February. I see new growth on my lavender, daisies etc. 
However without a doubt I will continue to have freezes on and off through the end of March. As such, I should hold on my urge to remove this dead foliage until I know for sure my cold is truly gone. Why? This bit of leftover foliage offers warmth for the new babies underneath them. How will you know when?
Follow your weather
patterns. One should trim within a week or so of what is considered that last freeze in your area. If you have plants you’re not sure of you can reach out; we can figure it out!
5) Prep your bare garden areas
Make note of any bare spots you have. The places in your beds that will hold all your new plants such as peppers, tomatoes, corn, beans etc. Do a quick soil test See: Step 2 of a Successful Garden: Soil Assessments and check if you need refreshing.
- Add fresh compost! If you have not added fresh soil in a few seasons then you probably need a few bags. I like to refresh annually with Black Kow compost.
If it’s an existing bed probably a few bags in each of your spaces will be plenty. Work it into your existing soil spreading it across your beds. This picture here is for both new beds and a refresh of old! Therefore, the amount you need could vary based on the size of your beds and rather they are new or not! - Add fresh peat moss twice a year, once in spring and once in fall. Peat Moss can be controversial for some. It is 100% natural which is why I love it, however it’s and taken from the bogs and this is where some have concern. As such, I try to not use it excessively more as a winter and spring prep! Coconut moss is also an option if one prefers not to use Peat.
- Add leftover banana or orange peels in with the fresh compost!
- Add all of your stored coffee grinds at this time along with eggshells you have been holding over winter! Mix all of these items in with your existing soil at least three weeks before your first plants go in! Allow it to sit in your beds and start their decomposition process while starting your seeds.
In Closing!
Starting your spring prep process can be so fun! Yes, it’s work of course but it allows you to see the life that is just around the corner! To envision what is coming and clear your mind of what has been! This walk motivates you to get out there and enjoy your first blast of warmth after a long season of cold.
And, it doesn’t hurt either if you whisper to your gardens in the words of Solomon… “Arise, come, my darlings; my beautiful ones, come with me,” spring is upon us, and my life and your’s is beautiful!
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Using Corn Stalks in your Garden
How do you use your corn stalks? I know several of you across the globe from me in places like Australia are gaining momentum and starting to hit your summer months in what is my winter! That means if you have planted corn your close to harvesting those babies and will be left with rows of corn stalks, leaves and husks. Those of you in the states like me in January are planning for your corn beds. As your seasons progress keep in mind some of the benefits of the corn stalks and leaves.
To Compost or Not to Compost
I used to throw all of the entire plant in the composter. However, over the last few seasons I have started composting the husks as soon as I peel my corn and using the stalks and leaves real-time in my gardens as a natural wordless mulch!
Mulching your beds is great for moister retention and helps with water maintainance. However, using only wood mulch at times can make it hard to get into the dirt. Personally, I like to be able to easily move my soil. In addition, if you’re in an area prone to termites and your beds are around your house, using wood mulch that will consistently be wet or moist may not be the best thing for your home.
Using your corn stalks in your beds
There are so many alternatives to using only wood. Your gardens plants can make some amazing mulch especially plants like asparagus and corn. Consider allowing your stalks a bit of time to die down after your corn is harvested. Let them stand until they have lost some of their green. You can still plant below them as they start to die. Leaving them in the soil for a bit actually looks cool! More so however it helps return some of those used nutrients back to the ground.
Once your plants have lost some of their green lift them from the beds and chop them into small pieces. They will decompose faster this way. Lay them around your plants as you would mulch; or, till them into your beds. Both of these methods will help put organic matter back into you soil!1
Step 2 of a Successful Garden: Soil Assessments
The health of the soil in ones garden is as important as the foundation of their home! As such, once someone has decided where they want to place a new bed, or even if they are using existing beds over and over again each season, an assessment of the soil should be completed. There are so many things to look at when it comes to soil one might wonder where to start. Two primary options when determining the validity of your soils are:
Having your soil tested.
This process can take up to two weeks. Stick around and I’ll share the ins and out of this as I go through a soil test for my beds in spring.
Performing a self assessment of your soil.
Self assessments are what I have used through the majority of my gardening life. One does learn over time to look for specific signs that will help them determine the health of their soil. However, self assessments can be risky for new gardeners unless they have a good guideline on what to look for. Luckily there is a very structured process one can follow that was created by Oregon State University to determine the health of a garden’s soil.
Oregon State recommends five assessments a year covering 10 steps ranging from soil to water to plant life. We will review each of these steps in a series of articles and how to videos over the next few months. However, let’s kick off the bulk of the assessments by focusing first on soil health and how to asses the texture and structure of your soil
Soil Assessment 1: Texture and Structure
The texture and structure of the soil is how it is put together, how it moves, handles water, and allows plants to grow. As such, soil texture is paramount to ones garden. Soil should have a crumb structure and be friable, (easily crumbled). It should also have good porosity so air, water, roots and organisms can move freely within the soil. This is a balance game though. Why? Because soil that is too friable probably has poor aggregate stability, it won’t hold structure well or retain water well. If on the other hand it does not break apart at all, it’s too hard, cemented or full of clay there will be issues; organisms will not be able to move through the soil.
Many things can impact the quality of your soil. Day-to-day life, weather, erosion, what and when one plant, as well as tilling or not tilling can impact positively or negatively a gardens soils texture.
Completing the Assessment
First off ensure your attempting your assessment when your soil is neither too dry, too wet or frozen. You will need a shovel (or tool to dig into the soil with) and a spray bottle with water.
- Choose a few areas of the garden that is considered representative.
- Dig a 6 – 10 inch deep area
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- Scoop up a portion of soil that is about the size and volume of a can of soup.
- Review the soil, are their crumbs, clumps of clay, granular soil only?
- If there are crumbs present squeeze them and note the amount of pressure it takes to collapse them while dry.
- Scoop up a portion of soil that is about the size and volume of a can of soup.
- Gently wet some of the crumbs and try to collapse them while wet. Does this require more or less pressure?
Assessing the Findings
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- Lowest health: Soil has powdery, massive or flaky structure without any visible crumbs.
- Moderate Health: There are some crumbs present yet they break under slight pressure. They are also far more fragile when wet.
- Best Health: Soil is friable and crumbly! It has a clear crumb structure that maintains its shape under pressure even when wet and can also still be broken between one’s fingers!
Four easy steps to improve least desirable results
1: Allow plants to decompose naturally if possible.
Allowing plants to decompose naturally is important to an organic garden. Not only that but if done correctly adds beauty to a garden and another season of life. Decomposition promotes organic growth in the soil. On the other hand leaving soil completely empty for long periods of time can drive erosion or overly compacted soil making it hard to manage or work through.
2: Have clear walkways through your garden!
This is one of the simplest things to do. Consider what one weighs. Consistently walking through the beds one is planting in can compact the soil to the point that it is no longer friable. Therefore, create beauty and character in your garden while also respecting your soil by laying small stepping-stones through your beds. Create committed walk ways such as my path directly down the middle of my large beds here. Plan for clearly laid out walkways between plants. Giving enough room to walk through for harvest but not touching the base soil the plants are thriving in.
3: Add organic matter to your soil!
Organic matter promotes organisms in your garden that break your soil down, It also promotes drainage and worms. Here are some cheap and easy ways to add organic matter to your soil.
- Using eggshells in your garden!
- Coffee grinds in your garden!
- Add orange or banana peals
- Utilize Peat or Coconut Moss
- Save dried Leaves
- Use corn leaves for mulch
- Add compost annually
- Grow companion plants that support your main crops but easily break down in your garden all summer long. Borage, Comfrey, Yarrow, Marigolds
4: Use cover crops in the winter.
In my experience the best cover crops are winter garden plants such as snow peas, cabbage, sweet peas, lettuce, radishes, garlic and other plants that love the cold.
These plants not only keep your soil busy but enable you to continue to eat the freshest foods available over your winter months. Other options are grassy plants, that die down easily preventing the need for heavy tilling such as alfalfa or buckwheat,
Want to see more?
Register with Oma’s Gardens and get notified as these and more steps are completed surrounding soil assessments over the next few weeks:
- Compacted Layers of Soil: Garden Soil Assessment 2
- Soil Work-ability: Garden Soil Assessment 3
- Soil Organisms: Garden Soil Assessment 4
- Earthworm Abundance: Garden Soil Assessment 5
- Water Infiltration and Availability: Garden Soil Assessment 6
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Step One of a New Garden: Location, Location, Location!
So you read the Eight Steps to a Successful New Garden and want a bit more details! Great! This article covers in detail Step One of a New Garden: Location! It also covers each of the sub items one should consider when looking for a good location. So…. let’s get started!
Location, Location, Location!
They say this in real estate and it applies for gardening as well! Wait.. not plants? No. Plants are important and one should have an idea of what their wanting to plant. Several of these steps somewhat work together and one will find themselves at times considering them all! However, the location plants will reside is more important. Not dirt? No. Not dirt location!
In my humble experience location is the number one thing one must consider when starting a new bed. Why? Simply put, how important is ones home to them? The spot one is planting in will be the home to their plants. The location selected for a garden will be where they live and thrive. Just as humans look for a home that “feels” right,” ones garden will 100% define if plants “feel right” growing there. And believe me you want your plants feeling right.
Another reason to consider location first is it forces the advanced thought and planning needed in all future steps. especially planting and landscaping steps. One can modify their space once a location is established, to a point; however, some limitations cannot be modified. As such, when looking at location options, consider these sub items before making a final decision:
A: What is the direction of the sun in relation to the potential location?
The direction of the sun in relation to a garden is paramount. 
My very first garden was a failure because I did not consider this in the vicinity of my location. What happened? I selected a spot that faced west and then planted shade loving plants! What, they were pretty? They looked so lovely there! Until, they burned from the west sun.
The direction of the sun will not necessarily stop an individual from planting in said location. It can however, define the kinds of plants one can sustain in the area being considered. It may limit ones options and require planning to overcome issues of too much or too little sun.
My space for example would have been fine if I had understood the importance of the sun. Tall plants or objects placed around the shade loving babies I selected could have protected them. Therefore, when considering a location study the sun and make note of the following:
- Does the location face North, South, East or West?
- Make note of the sun’s intensity (is it full, partial or shade)?
- Study how the sun looks in the morning at noon and in the evening and make note of the differences.
Doing this ensures by Steps two and three (Soil and Plants) there has been thought in regards to the sun and its power. It also helps plan for Step 7 Watering!
B: Are structures near the potential location (s)?
Consider in advance what structures surround prospective locations! For example my shade loving plants, where that west sun hit, set against a big brick 1house. I may as well have set them in an oven. West sun hitting hot brick all day long? Oh yeah it was fry time! Look for the following clues to impacts on the sun with your structures:
- Does the location being considered sit next to a house, a barn, a shed, a building, a tree, shrubs or taller plants?
- In relation to sun (Consideration A) do said structures create shade at certain points of the day, make it hotter or completely blocking the sun?
Structures can be your best friend or your worst enemy. Some structures can enable the perfect balance of sun and shade. Giving morning or afternoon sun and offering protection in high heat or cold wind. They can also completely take the sun away limiting one to only plants that live in the shade. As such, look at the structures around a potential location. Make note of said structures and their potential benefit to plants and use this information in the final location decision.
C: Are you using an existing bed or will you build from scratch?
The final thing to consider is the positive or negative impacts of using an existing bed versus building from scratch. Using an existing space does not always mean your garden efforts will be easier.
- On the positive side: a preexisting bed may mean less clean up. Perhaps an easier effort at removing deeply established grass. It could also mean the soil has been rotated at some point, perhaps adding simplicity to revitalization of the area.
- On the negative side: a preexisting bed could mean additional work. Perhaps the removal of rocks from a once rock garden. The removal of heavily established shrubs, trees or sedentary objects such as water features arbors or other items to allow for sun etc.
Take time to decide if a new garden or an existing garden would offer more benefits and capture the impacts to the potential location. Capture the data gathered in this analysis stage, write it down and make a preliminary decision!
Here is a quick Video on putting Step 1 to use. The goal is to find a spot that gives the MOST options for planting and to know in advance what limitations one will have.
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