Even though the winter landscape is bleak, it’s the right time to start planning your gardening for the coming growing season.

It doesn’t matter if you are a beginner or have just moved in to a new house and need to start the landscaping process.

Gardening success starts with making sure the garden beds are placed in sunny areas and have well-drained soil. Place the beds as far away as possible from trees and shrubs that could compete for light, water, and nutrients.

These conditions are great, but many homeowners have less than ideal locations to plant their vegetable garden. With proper crop selection, you can still grow successful vegetables. Consider raised beds, container gardening if the site is not draining well.

Every three to four years, it is important to test the soil. Gardeners can get an analysis of nutrients in soil by performing a soil test. Routine soil tests will give gardeners information about the soil’s levels of nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus. It is crucial to have this information before you plant, in order to ensure that your plants receive the correct nutrients.

While we tend to think about gardening only in spring and summer, winter is a great time for gardening.

Some other helpful tips for gardeners include:

• Follow the directions on fertilizer labels.
• Add organic materials like yard waste to improve soil.
• Use the plants that are suitable for your area of growth.
• Mulch can be used to control weeds and conserve moisture.
• To avoid potential problems, make sure to check your garden often.
• Only use pest control measures on known pests.

Mistakes to avoid:

• Too close planting can make it difficult to walk or work in the garden, and can cause problems with normal plant development.
• Apply fertilizer directly to plant roots, stems, or seeds.
• Don’t water too often or excessively, so that the soil doesn’t dry out.
• Before pulling weeds, allow them to grow larger.
• Root injury can be caused by deep cultivation.
• Use chemicals that are not recommended for use in garden crops.
• Avoid planting varieties that are not suitable for your area.
• To avoid disease and insect buildup, rotate crop families each year.

Original Blog:  https://extension.okstate.edu/articles/2022/garden-planning.html