Creating Your Dream Garden - Part 2: Preparation - From Plan to Action

🌟 From Plan to Action!

In part 1, you dreamed and planned. Now it's time to get serious—time to roll up your sleeves! In this part, you'll learn how to perfectly prepare your garden for the big transformation.

🎯 What You'll Learn in This Section

• Preparing the soil - The basis for a healthy garden
• Choosing Materials – What Do You Really Need?
• Timing plans - When do you do what?
• Organizing - Working efficiently saves time and money

🌱 Step 1: Soil Preparation - The Basics of Everything

Good soil = healthy plants. Invest time in your soil—it's worth it!

Improve Soil:

For clay soil:

• Add sand and compost for better drainage
• Work organic material into the soil
• Consider raised borders
• Plant in spring (not in wet winter)

For sandy soil:

• Add compost and organic matter
• Use mulch to retain moisture
• Fertilize regularly (nutrients wash away quickly)
• Consider soil improvers

For clay soil:

• Congratulations – this is ideal garden soil!
• Maintenance with annual compost
• Keep adding organic material

Making Compost:

Free gold for your garden! What can it hold?

Green Materials (nitrogen-rich):

• Grass clippings
• Vegetable and fruit waste
• Coffee grounds and tea leaves
• Fresh weed plants (without seeds!)

Brown Materials (carbon-rich):

• Dried leaves
• Straw and hay
• Cardboard and paper
• Wood chips

NOT in the compost:

• Meat, fish, dairy
• Cooked food
• Sick plants
• Weeds with seeds
• Pet manure (dog/cat)

🛠️ Step 2: Materials & Tools

Essential Garden Tools:

The Basics (for every gardener):

• Spade (for digging)
• Hoe (for weeding)
• Rake (for leveling)
• Pruning shears (for pruning)
• Watering can or garden hose
• Gloves
• Knee protector or kneeling cushion

Handy Extra:

• Wheelbarrow
• Forks (for compost)
• Trowel
• Weed puller
• Garden sieve

Choose Materials:

Paving & Paths:

• Tiles: Sleek and modern, easy maintenance
• Vowels: Classic, durable, lots of choice
• Gravel: Cheap, natural, good drainage
• Wood chips: Natural, soft, needs to be refilled
• Step tiles: Informal, flexible, easy to lay

Borders & Edges:

• Wood: Warm, natural, must be treated
• Stone: Durable, classic, more expensive
• Metal: Modern, sleek, stainless steel options
• Bamboo: Sustainable, tropical, affordable

Fences & Separations:

• Wood: Warm, privacy, maintenance required
• Bamboo: Natural, light, tropical atmosphere
• Metal: Modern, sustainable, transparent as possible
• Living hedge: Green, natural, grows slowly

📅 Step 3: Timing - When Do You Do What?

Garden calendar:

Spring (March - May):

• ✅ Best time for plants
• ✅ Prepare and fertilize the soil
• ✅ Sowing annuals
• ✅ Pruning summer bloomers
• ❌ Do not plant in frost

Summer (June - August):

• ✅ Enjoy the garden
• ✅ Water regularly
• ✅ Remove faded flowers
• ✅ Light maintenance
• ❌ Do not plant in full sun

Autumn (September - November):

• ✅ Second best planting time
• ✅ Planting bulbs for spring
• ✅ Composting leaves
• ✅ Dividing perennials
• ✅ Winter preparation

Winter (December - February):

• ✅ Making plans
• ✅ Maintain tools
• ✅ Pruning trees (frost-free)
• ❌ Do not plant in frost
• ❌ Do not work on frozen ground

📋 Step 4: Organization - Working Efficiently

Create a Work Plan:

Phase 1: Clean Up & Prepare

1. Remove unwanted plants and weeds
2. Clean up debris and waste
3. Mark zones according to your plan
4. Improve the soil

Phase 2: Hard Elements

1. Lay paths and paving
2. Place fences and borders
3. Install irrigation (if desired)
4. Place garden furniture

Phase 3: Planting

1. Plant large trees and shrubs first
2. Fill with perennials
3. Add annuals for color
4. Mulch the borders

Phase 4: Finishing Touches

1. Add lighting
2. Place decoration
3. Sow grass or lay lawn
4. Enjoy your work!

Manage Budget:

🌿 Choosing Plants - Smart Selection

The Right Plant in the Right Place:

For Sunny Places:

• Lavender - fragrant, drought-resistant
• Roses - classic, richly flowering
• Sunflowers - cheerful, easy
• Sedum - succulent plant, low maintenance

For Shadow:

• Hostas - foliage plant, many varieties
• Sailing - elegant, natural
• Astilbe - feathery flowers
• Hedera (ivy) - evergreen

For Partial Shade:

• Hydrangea - large flowers, long blooming
• Geranium - ground cover, floriferous
• Helleborus - winter flowering
• Anemone - autumn bloom

Plant species:

Perennials:

• Come back every year
• Good investment
• Growing bigger every year
• Can be shared

Annuals:

• Blooming one season
• Lots of color and variety
• Easy to replace
• Ideal for pots

Trees & Shrubs:

• Structure and height
• Long-term investment
• Privacy and shade
• Seasonal interest

✅ Checklist Part 2: Are You Ready?

Before you go to Part 3, make sure you have:

• ☐ Soil analyzed and improved
• ☐ Compost created or purchased
• ☐ Essential tools collected
• ☐ Materials chosen for paths and borders
• ☐ Garden calendar created
• ☐ Work plan drawn up in phases
• ☐ Plant list created
• ☐ Budget divided over phases

🎉 Next Step

You're now all set! In Part 3: The Work , we'll get started with the actual implementation. From digging to planting—we'll take you step by step!

Part 2 of 4 - Preparation is half the battle 🌟