I can’t remember a time when I didn’t love plants and flowers. Everyone in my family gardened so it came naturally to me. There’s something so therapeutic about digging in the dirt and watching things grow.
Starting a garden can be intimidating if you are a beginner, but it just takes a little planning and a sunny spot. I planned out my new garden during the winter-it helped me get through freezing February! You want to find a location in your yard that gets at least 6 hours of full sun. The spot I picked has sun on it all day long so it’s perfect.
find a sunny location
prepare the area
Once the ground thawed out, the area was rototilled and I amended the soil by adding a combination of compost and a good quality garden blend from a local nursery.
I wanted my garden to have a cottage look to it and found a garden fence kit online that would be perfect. (Unfortunately, I believe it’s discontinued so I can’t link the source for you).
plan your layout before planting
After I finished putting up my fence I had to figure out how I was going to plot out my garden space. I tend to stand in the middle and stare for awhile until it comes to me then move things around until I’m happy
I’m a big advocate of vertical gardening and if I can grow plants up on supports I will. I find it’s easier to harvest and easier to notice bugs or disease hitting the plants later in the season-plus I just love how it looks. I bought two metal raised beds for herbs and small veggies(radishes, carrots, lettuce).
plant your garden
I made a couple of teepees from 5ft bamboo poles tied at the top with jute to grow some decorative climbing flowers. The wooden tent trellis is where I planted early peas (sugar snaps and snow). The big metal trellis is for cucumbers. The back portion of the garden was for the tomatoes and pepper plants and a willow teepee for green beans.
I planted a row of sunflower seeds outside the back of the fence along the entire edge. I took advantage of every square inch of this space and tucked in a couple of broccoli plants on the fence edge of one garden bed and a row of leeks along the other one. I also added a row of metal grids along the right wall of the garden for mini pumpkins and squash.
Early July 
Late July
As you can see, growing vegetable vertically also looks pretty. I love how the green beans have filled the teepee completely.
The cucumber trellis also makes it easy to find the cukes that are ready to be picked.
‘”To Plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow” –Audrey Hepburn
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