The garden journal is an important component of the garden planning process. It allows the gardener to review the successes and failures of the past year. This evaluation reduces the chances of repeating the same mistakes, helps create a healthier garden environment, and helps reduce costly gardening mistakes, especially for beginning gardeners.
A journal doesn’t have to be anything fancy and can range from a simple school notebook to an elaborate leather-bound journal. Some gardeners even use technology to design a unique garden journal that does everything possible to get you to agree to plant the seed. The key to the journaling process is to choose one that works for you and one that you will actually use.
Whether you’re a beginning gardener or starting a new garden, the first step in this process is drawing out the garden space. Some people find it helpful to make the drawing to scale, but that’s really not necessary. The important component is that the dimensions of the garden are noted.
Don’t limit yourself to the traditional idea of what a garden is. All gardens need to be planned and this includes containers, mulch and straw bales along with hanging baskets and flower bags. Keep in mind though; that the information described below is designed for terrestrial gardens and, in doing so, will need to be adapted for other types of gardens.
Once the garden space has been drawn, the next step is to add environmental information. The north, south, east and west directions should be placed on the garden drawing. Consideration should also be given to the general direction of the wind and how the sun hits the garden space during the growing season.
Weather conditions are another component that needs to be added during the growing season. This includes the temperature, humidity level or amount of rainfall, and any natural disasters that may have affected the garden space. Including this information will help the gardener deal with microclimate issues and help him or her more accurately determine the success of the garden.
Another environmental feature that should be added to the garden journal is soil health. This includes the pH level, soil type, and any nutrient issues. This information is easily obtained through a kit that can be picked up at any local extension office.
External features surrounding the garden space should also be added to the drawing. This information is very important as shadows from buildings, vegetation and fences can affect the landscape space. Additionally, observing the plant material found around the garden can help reduce the possibility of plant incompatibility. A good example of plant incompatibility is tomato and black walnut.
Once the garden journal has been created, the next step is to decide how much you need.
