Take Out Your Sketch Book! Winter Is The Time To Plan Your Spring Garden (And How To Do It)

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

Gardens keep people busy throughout the growing season, but once the cold weather arrives, that green life slows. The peaceful calm of winter gives people a chance to catch up on crafts, DIY projects, and household chores. However, we can't forget that spring is right around the corner. There's still a lot of garden work to be done to ensure a bountiful season in the year ahead. From keeping up with new vegetable cultivars to evaluating last season's successes and failures, winter is the best time to plan your future garden and set yourself up for success. Start by browsing Pinterest for garden ideas. Next, use an app to map out garden beds and plant spacing. Or creatively plan garden color palettes using office supplies. Finally, make a checklist to keep on top of spring garden tasks.

Given the amount of time gardeners put into their yards, planning how best to use your outdoor space just makes sense. Spring is always a flurry of activity in the garden, but when you approach the season with a plan, it all feels less overwhelming. It can save you money, too. For example, with a little planning, you'll be less likely to buy seeds you already have and more likely to plant them at the right time for optimal germination. Before you start planning your garden, think back on last season while it's still fresh in your mind. Record which tools and techniques served you well and which didn't; which plants grew in abundance and which failed. Note what you want to grow more of and what you want to scale back on. Reflection creates the foundation for your garden plan, providing fertile ground for next season's dreams to grow.

In project planning, brainstorming is one of the most important phases. Whether you're researching DIY seed bombs — they make starting a flourishing garden easier than ever, by the way — or simply scrolling Pinterest for garden inspiration, you're doing essential work. Do you want to expand the container garden on your patio? Perhaps you want to include some rare or native plants in your design. Dreaming about your future garden will help your plan for the year ahead come together quicker. Next, it's time to put your ideas down on paper — real or electronic. For gardeners who love working manually, graph paper and colored pencils might be the best option. The Garden Tutor Multiscale Garden and Landscape Design Kit comes with all the tools you need, making the task approachable for newbie designers, or you can buy the materials separately.

For those who prefer to work digitally, winter is a good time to try software for designing your garden. The Almanac Garden Planner (paid) is a popular app, and there are some garden style-specific programs, like the University of Connecticut's Rain Garden App. While not particular to garden design, Canva is also a good online visual planning tool. If you're already competent in garden design or on a limited budget, Google Sheets is free and completely customizable. Or buy a template, like this one by Floricult, to get you started. Finally, pair your illustrated plan with a spring garden tasks checklist so you're ready to hit the ground running when the weather warms. Organize it by date, week, or month so you know exactly when to prune your fruit trees, order and start seeds, and put bare root perennials in the ground.