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The Organized Gardener

© Jane Hollis

Have you have ever had to purchase expensive bedding plants because you forgot to sow seeds in early spring? Perhaps you have been unable to tell interested visitors the identities of some of your prize plants, or lost shrubs you moved in mid-summer because you knew you would forget to do it in the autumn? If that is the case then maybe you should adopt a more organised approach to gardening this year. Gardening is an extremely time-sensitive activity as many tasks can only be carried out at specific times of the year, for example, seed sowing, pruning, planting bare- rooted shrubs and trees, etc. An organised approach to gardening will help you save money, ensure the health of your plants and improve the overall appearance of your garden.

Garden planning is one important area where good organisation brings results. Gardens are never static, even mature gardens with established plants are always changing. Sit down for a minute and jot down on paper what you want from your garden. Do you want an informal country garden with plenty of flowers, or a low- maintenance entertaining area with plenty of evergreens, or a formal courtyard with clipped shrubs? What features do you want - a pond, pergola, woodland area, vegetable patch, summer house?

Even if you cannot create your dream garden immediately, because of lack of time or money, it is wise to jot the ideas down for future reference. For example, if you plan to have a pond at the end of your garden eventually, make sure you do not plant deciduous trees in that area, otherwise when your pond is finally created, you will be constantly clearing dead leaves from the water. Many people scribble their garden plans on scrap paper lying around the house, but these often get lost. It is a better idea to create a garden planning folder so that you can keep all your ideas and inspirations in one place. Include sketches of layout ideas, photos of inspiring gardens, names of attractive plants you have seen, etc.

You may find it helpful to carry a garden notebook around with you. How many times have you had a flash of gardening inspiration while you are sitting on the train or standing in the bus queue. If you carry a small notebook then you can jot your idea down, so you don't forget it before you get home.

Having given some thought to what sort of garden you want, you now need to think about the action needed to achieve it. One of the best approaches is to start a garden diary or wall-chart. A wall-chart is particularly useful if you feel you will not remember to check a diary. You can hang it somewhere conspicuous, such as on the kitchen door or in your potting shed, so that you can see at a glance whether it is time to take cuttings from your lavender or sow your sweet peas.