Sketch a drawing of the house, fence and other immovable areas. Label the areas where you’d like to plant. Label north, south, east, and west. Don’t forget to include seating.
Plant shade-loving plants against existing trees or shrubs.
Place taller plants at the back of the bed. You don’t want them shading smaller plants. Give wider plants more space. The beds may look too empty while the plant matures, but they will fill out each season. Intersperse different colors of plants. You can try a design with every other plant being a different color, or diagonal rows of plants that are the same color. Plant very small plants along the borders. Some small perennial plants will also do well against paths. You may also consider using landscape fabric as a barrier for weeds. It can be covered with mulch or rocks to keep your garden looking consistent.
Choose an area that is flat. In some cases, you can tear up earth and level it out, but it may need extra leveling in the future as the dirt compresses.
Some direct sow plants include beets, carrots, parsnips, peas, and radishes. Some veggies you are more likely to transplant include broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and cauliflower. Transplants can be purchased (which is more expensive), or started yourself in an indoor location.
You can check with a local nursery or look into a farmer’s almanac to determine the date for your region. If you are planning to start your own transplants, work backwards from your planting date, and decide when you’ll need to begin growing your transplants.
Start with four foot (1. 2 meter) rows and two to three foot (60 to 90 cm) pathways between the rows.
