10 Steps To Prepare A Small Garden by The Prairie Nurse

The Prairie Nurse shares her garden tips to help you get started! 

Here are 10 steps to prepare a small garden for the upcoming new growing season. 

1. Something that may seem easy, but for me it really wasn’t. I wanted to plant almost everything! I love to cook and wished that I had every non-GMO plant available for my meals. If this is your first time planting a garden. I would start with easy to grow vegetables or plants. This way it will keep you being an optimist gardener by how well the hardy plants are growing for you. Don’t overdo it consider planting 4 to 8 different types of vegetables. Another aspect you could think of is the type of garden. You could do a vegetable garden which is usually the preferred type for most people. However, a herb garden is a good option as well, especially if you are like me and love drinking tea. Regardless, of the type of garden just get started! Start small then you can level up the next time.
2. Next the where will the plants live, where is their home? Find a great spot for your plants. If you are doing a vegetable garden or most flower plants they usually need lots of sun. The sunlight will be need 6-8 hours of full sun each day. So, keep an eye out in your yard prior to pick the best garden spot. If possible, pick a flat spot for the garden it helps with drainage and run off. No-one wants a sloping garden it will be worth your time due to the pain later. Also, of course the closer you are to water access the better. Pick a relatively flat spot for your garden because it’s more difficult, time-consuming, Also, the closer your garden is to the water source the better. You will be thankful for this later, and others that help your watering if you have to leave town. 
3. The third step is to make sure the ground is cleared for the garden. The weeds need to go and have sod in the area of your planned garden. If you want quick results, cut it out. Slice under the sod with a spade. Cut the sod into sections to make it easier to remove. If you are thinking of a longer term project, try the lasagna garden method. Areas of improvement for future garden areas is to use sheets of newspaper (great for recycling as well) double that amount in the lawn. Then spread a 3 inch layer of compost other type is combo of top soil and potting soil if you would prefer) on the newspapers. 
4. The health of soil is so important, you will want a richness to the soil. I like to have a separate container for the fruits and vegetables please try to use organic if you can. I know organic is more expensive but there are sales on this produce and sometimes the same price. I like to use egg shells as too for the composting. Of course adding sand or perlite helps with drainage. Lastly, the PH is sooo important, especially if you want to grow berries or certain types of trees on your property.  
5. It’s time to work on the soil some more! Some tools you will need is a garden fork or tiller this is used to wake up your soil and get some air into it. The garden fork or whatever you have or choose should loosen the soil to the depth of 12 to 15 inches. Next, its time to mix it with the 2 to 4 inch layer compost. 
6. The fun now begins its time for the fertilizer. This is so important due to the nutrients it will need to grow the plants. Some options are if you have animal fertilizer on your property if not buy some general-purpose fertilizer to help the type of plants you are growing. 
7. Seventh steps is your location of climate. Where is your growing zone on the map.
   See below of the USDA Plant Zone Map for assistance. This map is highly important for the time to plant so they survive. I attached their link at the bottom of my article. Time to pick the seeds that will thrive with the soil and climate in your region. The local nursery and garden center can be very helpful to your questions. I always enjoy going to these places seeing all the magical plants. You can start with the seeds and prepare them in your home prior to planting them or buy the plant already grown and transplant it into your garden.  
8. Each plant has its special magical instructions. The seed packet will give you the directions *please remember to save this packet for a reference later* also the plant tags have the instructions too. I save the plant tags for my garden so when I stake the area I know what is planted where for a reference. The steps you will need to know is the depth, spacing and sunlight exposure. Another area that the instructions don’t include is not all plants like each other. Make sure you check out and google what plants grow better with other ones. I just thought this would be a good future article to write about on my website or vlog on my social media accounts. So, you can check out my future article or google it too. 
9. Aqua time, watering plants regularly is a must! Just like us we need water. This is so important when times get dry and hot. If you live in a humid climate this may not be as relevant, but if you are say in Colorado its a lot more dryer there. Some thoughts are most vegetables or flowers need about 1 inch of water per week. Of course this may be different with your soil type too. 
10. Mulch, mulch mulch. This helps with moisture, stopping those pesky weeds, regulate the soil’s temperature. It’s like insulation in your walls of a house. Some mulch idea’s would be leaves, grass clippings (don’t spray your grass with chemicals), organic mulch or straw. 

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Links for references: