5 Top Tips for Planning your Next Year's Garden.

When it comes to gardening, it really isn't an acceptable excuse to say 'I'm not great at planning' as what you sow you will reap! By spending time in planning and designing your garden, you will undoubtedly be thankful for your efforts during the following Spring and Summer months.

Firstly, you need to know (if you don't already) the kind of buying and planting your garden will require as this will depend on regions, location ie by the sea or not, are you located on flat land or on the side of a mountain 1,000 feet above sea level or urban / rural setting. Each of these locations will change the style and success of plants and flowers in your garden. Sometimes, the best way to see which plants are ideal for your garden is to take a walk down your street and see how other peoples gardens are growing, make a note of what is doing well - Also refer to the experts online, if you are purchasing plants or flowers online then ask them questions when making your order, most will gladly give free advice.

5 Top Tips to use for planning your next year's garden:

Look at where you'll be growing your garden. Not only the location of your garden, but also will you be planting in raised beds, containers, a community garden plot? Are you looking for privacy from a busy street or neighbours are is this a space going to be where small children should be comfortable in?

What do you want to grow and when? You know the space you're working with, so look at designing out the layout of the plants and flowers that you want. Simply list everything you want to grow!

Learn from last years mistakes! As with anything in life, it pays to learn from your mistakes. Dig out anything that you felt was misplaced or did not perform in the way you were hoping for.

Should you be buying seeds / bulbs or plants? Think about when you are going to be planting and what you should be buying. You need to come up with a schedule, based on your design / plan, of when to plant everything.

Prepare your soil! Autumn is a great time to be working in your garden and with your soil as it will be easy to work with (moist) and ideal for planting (warm still from summer). Before planting anything in your garden make sure you dig to loosen the soil and adding organic material. By taking time to prepare and work on your soil in the Autumn you will save yourself much disappointment by improving chances of a beautiful and fruitful Spring and Summer!