Let’s get ready to garden. Whether it’s in the ground, containers, or half an acre, we must prepare.

I always look forward to this time of the year. The seed catalogs start coming in the mail, the weather starts to warm up a bit and I see a bit of green grass and buds starting to pop out.

Just like any large project, you need to prepare for the next garden season. Whether you live in Zone 1 or Zone 10. It’s not hard to do and once you have done it a few times, it becomes old hat and so much fun! Even the kids will love to help and learn at the same time.

I will list a few important items below that will help you prepare your garden in the upcoming growing season whether you grow in the ground, a raised garden, or in pots.

Planting Zone

One of the first things you will need to do is figure out what zone you are in. Your growing zone does make a difference when it comes to planting.  But, there are exceptions to every rule.  

I live in Zone 9 and the average last frost date is February 15th.  But where I live is a bit lower and my average last frost date is March 15th.  So where your house is located could mean the difference in your planting by a few weeks. Check out the USDA maps to find your zone. Also, check out my post on When to Plant in Your Zone.

garden tools

I have owned many garden tools over the years. Some were passed down from my dad and others were purchased by me. I have also learned that cheap garden tools will only cause heartache and a few choice words. Here is a list of items I use the most and have really held up when I garden.

• Metal watering can – I love my metal watering can I found in a thrift store. Not sure how old it is, but it really is an heirloom to pass on.
• Rachet hand shears – My favorite gardening tool. Having the rachet system really helps your hand to not work so hard on cutting limbs.
• Garden tools – Heavy-duty garden tools will last for years if you just wash and dry them off before storage after each use.
• Garden gloves – These are the best gloves. The plastic on the bottom will keep your hands from getting wet and muddy. They wash up nicely too.
• Garden apron – I love this apron to help keep my clothes from getting really dirty, wet, and to hold many of my tools and other items. 
• Garden tote belt – If I plan on being out in the garden for a long time, my 5-gallon bucket tote belt is the perfect choice to carry all my tools at once. I can also throw my trimmings and weeds inside the bucket as I walk around.
• Garden clogs – I don’t like to have wet and muddy feet and these clogs wash up like a dream.
• Plant markers – Perfect to label all your plants and are reusable.
• Folding garden cart – I love this cart especially when I garden away from home and throw it in the back of my car since it folds up so nicely. Great to carry bags of dirt and all the plants to your garden area.

Choose the right seeds

It’s important to get the right seeds and plants for your growing conditions and area. Read the labels closely of each plant or seed packet to make sure they will grow well in your garden or planting zone. You don’t want to plant squash in a very small area or one small pepper plant in a 4 x 4 area. Doing your homework will save you money and many headaches down the road.

Choosing the right seeds is a personal preference and this is where trial and error comes in. 

Heirloom seeds or non-hybrid seeds are seeds that have not been modified by man and will naturally pollinate. Their seeds can also be harvested for future use and some have been around for centuries.

Hybrid seeds have been genetically modified by man by crossing two plants together. They are made to produce larger yields, larger fruit, drought-tolerant, etc. Seeds are also sterile and can’t be used again for future plants.

You do have to plan ahead if you are growing from seeds indoors under a grow light. You may have to start 6 weeks before the last frost date in your zone. Buying plants already started from the store will give you a faster yield and are a great choice if you are new to gardening.

I store my seeds in the fridge from year to year in a DIY Seed Storage Container with a lid and dividers and it works so well.

find a perfect place for your garden

Doesn’t matter how large or small your garden is going to be, you need to have the right amount of space and sun. Gardens love the sun and this is key. Stay away from areas that are in the shade most of the day. Staying ahead of harvesting and pulling weeds will keep your garden healthy. Placing your garden where you can see it often will help to remind you to go out to visit your garden. 

My favorite garden project was making a tomato cage out of PVC piping. It’s so strong and I can take it down each season and store it easily.

My dad had his garden in the backyard, but “his” chair in the living room sat near the window so he could see how his garden was doing every day. He learned how to garden from his mom and I learned from him.

I have garden bags on the back porch where I can access them easily. Since we don’t have much of a yard, this is the perfect gardening solution for me and perfect for anyone with no yard or living in apartments. The garden bags are so easy to use and move around.

As you also notice in the picture above, I have chicken wire over my plant. That’s because the squirrels are such a pain where I live and love to munch on anything they can find. If you have problems with squirrels too, read my post on how I have handled them in my yard.

make sure water is close by

Besides the sun, water is probably the most important must item in gardening. It never rains when or where you need it to, so plan your garden close to a water source. Either by a water faucet to run a hose or next to a well. 

I also have a rain barrel that is mainly used for watering the flower pots. The small section of hose at the bottom of the barrel is where I slide the spout of my watering can into to fill it up. As you can see, the rain barrel is behind bushes so it’s not noticeable from the street. This particular rain barrel is flat on one side, so it sits nicely up against the wall. I also use a diverter to connect to the downspout to pour into the rain barrel.

When I was using raised beds, I used a timer on my hose and misters to directly spray water at the base of all the plants. This system worked perfectly. I would have the timer water my garden first thing in the morning before the sun got too hot.

TIP: Watering during the hottest part of the day will also cause the plants to burn when the sun comes out and heats the water on the leaves. Water sitting on plant leaves may cause fungus and disease. I know we can’t control when it rains, but we can control how we water plants.

Learning from gardening

Gardening is very therapeutic for me. I feel closer to God when I have my hands in the dirt, planting seeds and watching everything grow. It just makes me happy.

Some form of gardening has been around since the beginning of time. I love growing my own food and the flavor is always so much better. Plus, I know what I grow is pesticide-free!

But, when you garden, you are dealing with Mother Nature, and stuff happens as you can see in the picture above. I have to plant cucumbers early in the spring to get a crop because they will always get a fungus on them and the plant will slowly die. I could spray a fungicide on them but it really doesn’t seem to help much for me.

A few things to remember about gardening:

• Plants will die
• Seeds won’t germinate
• Mother nature will destroy a garden
• Animals will dig up your garden
• Failing is an option

I’ve been asked many times, why do I want to garden?

It’s such a great learning tool. Not only for you but your children. It’s a great stress reliever when it’s been a long day to walk out to the garden and harvest something you have grown and pull a few weeds. You will also learn what patience is all about and there is nothing better than having meals with food you have grown and shared with friends and family.

But most importunately …it’s FUN. 

And one more very important tip when you are gardening. Wear a wide-brim hat and use sunscreen. Your skin is too precious to worry about skin cancer. Your face, back of your neck, and ears are very vulnerable. I leave my hat by the door to the side yard where it’s always there to remind me.

Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth – Genesis 1:11

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