The Best Way To Plan Your Garden | 2025 Planting

Share away friends!

There’s something magical about the beginning of each year—it’s the time to plan your garden and embrace a mix of fresh starts and familiar routines. Even now, as I tend my third set of gardens with a lifetime of growing tucked under my apron, the magic remains as strong as ever. Each season brings new opportunities to nurture the soil, plant with intention, and create something truly beautiful.

Over the years, I’ve picked up tips and tricks that can help guide you in starting your first vegetable garden, refreshing a cherished flower bed, or planning an herb garden. Whether you’re a beginner looking for simple gardening advice or dreaming of a cozy, thriving space, this guide has you covered. Let’s dig in together and plan your garden today!

Simple Steps On How To Plan Your Garden

What we’ll be covering in this article:

1. Find the right spot
2. Prepare your soil
3. Start with A good plan
4. Map out a garden layout
5. Choose the right garden design
6. Crop rotation and companion planting
7. Spacing and sunlight
8. Include beauty and pollinators
9. Stay flexible and have fun!

Before we start, a small note on failure

A successful gardener isn’t someone whose crops always thrive. A successful gardener is someone who keeps going—through failed crops, tough seasons, and the squash bugs that seem determined to win every battle. Gardening is a journey of growth, and some years are filled with bountiful harvests while others are filled with lessons learned.

I can’t count how many times someone has told me, “I’m not a gardener; my plants always die.” If that’s the measure of success, then I suppose I’m not a gardener either after a lifetime of dirt under my nails.

But that’s not the truth.

Gardening is forever a challenge, a dance of learning and adapting. It’s as much mental as it is physical—a beautiful tug of war between you, the soil, the sun, and the elements. To be a gardener doesn’t require perfection. It simply means you’ve put a plant in the ground and cared for it. My friend, if you’ve done that, then you are a gardener. And I’m so glad to have you here.

Now that we’ve confirmed that yes, you truly are a gardener, let’s get to the meat of this post:

1. Finding the Right Spot

To design a successful vegetable garden, start by choosing a sunny spot with plenty of direct sunlight. Think about how your water source will impact the layout, and take note of any fixed features like trees, fences, or buildings—they’ll shape your garden space, so plan around them carefully. Whether you’re gardening in a town or on a homestead like mine, proximity to your kitchen is key. If you’re in the middle of making dinner and need five tomatoes, you don’t want to trek a quarter mile to your garden! On our homestead, I’ve placed my canning and market garden about 50 feet from the kitchen door, with my herb and potager garden even closer at just 20 feet away.

If you’re working with a smaller space, don’t worry—some of my most productive gardens have been in modest backyards. Techniques like square foot gardening and raised beds are fantastic for maximizing limited areas. Get creative and think vertically; tools like a GreenStalk Vertical Planter can help you grow a bounty without taking up much ground space.

2. Preparing Your Soil \ Building Healthy Soil

The soil in your garden beds is the foundation of everything you grow. After years of trial and error, I’ve learned the value of knowing your soil type and improving it with the right amendments. Fall and early spring are the best times to amend your soil, as this allows organic matter time to break down before planting. I enrich my beds with compost from our farm, made from garden scraps, animal bedding, and manure. This nutrient-rich blend not only feeds the soil but also helps prevent issues like powdery mildew and supports a productive, healthy garden.

If you’re using manure, it’s important to know that some types

Chicken or cow manure, are considered “hot.” These are so rich in nutrients that, if applied fresh, they can burn tender plants. To avoid this, add hot manures to your garden beds in the fall or several months before planting so they have time to break down and mellow. On the other hand, “cool” manures like llama or alpaca poop can be used immediately without the risk of harming your plants. Adding a mix of leaf mulch and organic matter like compost alongside these amendments helps build soil structure and fertility.

Sandy Vs. Clay Soil

For sandy soil, focus on adding lots of organic matter, such as compost, well-rotted manure, and even shredded leaves, to improve its ability to retain moisture and nutrients. For clay soil, organic matter is also essential, but you may want to add gypsum or coarse sand to improve drainage and aeration. Compost acts as a universal amendment, supporting a rich ecosystem of beneficial microbes that make nutrients available to plants.

If you’re unsure about your soil type or nutrient levels, consider having your soil tested.

Most local agricultural extension offices provide testing services that can analyze pH, nutrient deficiencies, and more, helping you create a tailored plan to build the healthiest soil for your garden. With the right amendments and preparation, your soil can support a thriving, productive garden year after year.

If you want to learn about organic gardening and how I make it work on our gardens, check it out here.

3. Start with a Good Plan

When garden season rolls around, I grab a cup of hot coffee, bundle up in my coat, and head to the garden. I find a comfortable spot to sit, reflect, and take it all in. I look over each garden bed, thinking about what was planted there last year—what worked well, what didn’t, and what I’d like to change for the upcoming season.

As I sit quietly or walk the rows, my mind races through memories of the past year: chilly days spent prepping and planting, hot summer afternoons weeding and watering, and crisp fall evenings harvesting. This reflective time helps me pinpoint what needs improvement and ensures I start with clear intentions, avoiding past mistakes.

Once I’ve gathered my thoughts, I pull out the garden journal I kept from the previous year to jot down notes and solidify my ideas. From there, I transition to sketching a scale plan of my garden layout. Using graph paper and different colors, I map out vegetable beds, flower borders, and pathways. Taking accurate measurements prevents overcrowding and ensures every plant has room to thrive. If you’re looking for garden layout ideas, this simple method is a great starting point to organize your thoughts and maximize your garden’s potential.

Pro Tip: Use Google Maps to measure your yard and create a rough outline of your outdoor space.

4. Mapping Out the Garden Layout

For my kitchen garden, I focus on high-use plants I grab daily, like lettuce and herbs such as basil, rosemary, parsley, sage, cilantro, and thyme. This garden is also home to my medicinal plants, including marshmallow root, echinacea, calendula, mint, lavender, chamomile, yarrow, comfrey, and holy basil. Most of these grow well together, so I weave them throughout the beds. The kitchen garden is my favorite—it’s the first to turn green each spring, thanks to its many perennials, and it lasts well into the fall.

My market garden is where I grow larger, sprawling crops like squash, tomatoes, peppers, cabbage, asparagus, gourds, and pumpkins. I incorporate companion planting here, using plants like marigolds and nasturtiums to deter pests naturally. This garden is the workhorse of our homestead, producing the bulk of what we can and store for winter. While it’s primarily functional, it still offers beauty, especially when crops like pumpkins and sunflowers are in full bloom.

If you don’t have space for two separate gardens, you can combine these ideas into one versatile plot. Herbs can easily be tucked into corners or interplanted with larger crops. For example, basil grows wonderfully alongside tomatoes, and cilantro thrives among cucumbers. Companion planting not only saves space but also benefits plant health and pest control.

Lastly, I reserve space for cool-season crops like spinach, peas, carrots, and garlic. Depending on your zone, these can be planted in mid-winter or early spring, using tools like cold frames or row covers to extend the growing season. These tools also allow for a second planting in late summer for a bountiful fall harvest. By planning carefully and using season-extending techniques, you can maximize your garden’s productivity throughout the year.

---

5. Choose the Right Garden Design

The design of your garden depends on your goals, available space, and personal preferences. Over the years, I’ve experimented with everything from traditional row planting to square foot gardening and raised bed designs. Each method has its own advantages:

• For a kitchen garden: Place it close to the house for quick access to fresh herbs, salad greens, and other daily essentials.
• For a canning garden: Since you’ll spend lots of time here, consider raised beds. They’re easier on your back during planting and harvesting and make maintenance more manageable.
• For a small garden: Opt for efficient layouts like square foot gardening, which maximize your harvest in limited spaces.
• For larger areas: Use a combination approach—traditional rows for large crops like corn and pumpkins, and raised beds for smaller, high-maintenance plants.

Regardless of your layout, it’s essential to plan clear pathways for walking and enough space to work comfortably in the beds. I’ve found that a well-thought-out design not only saves time but also makes gardening more enjoyable.

And of course, no gardening session would be complete without Lilac, my Jersey cow, watching from the pasture. Her curious eyes follow my every move, making her my most loyal (and judgmental!) garden companion.r walking and space to work in the beds. Lilac, my Jersey cow, often watches me from the pasture while I work, her curious eyes following my every move.

---

6. Think About Crop Rotation and Companion Planting

Crop rotation is one of my go-to strategies for keeping the soil healthy and reducing pest problems. Each season, I move crops to different beds to maintain soil balance and prevent the buildup of crop-specific pests. For example, tomatoes might occupy one bed this year, and nitrogen-fixing beans will take their place the next. To make this rotation easier, I use movable climbing trellises instead of fixed structures, allowing me to relocate beans and tomatoes as needed.

Companion planting is another technique I rely on to protect crops and improve yields. Marigolds are excellent for deterring pests, while basil not only enhances the flavor of tomatoes but also grows well alongside them. While companion planting doesn’t always work perfectly, it’s a great addition to any garden plan.

For pest control, I primarily stick to organic methods, but I’ve found a simple solution that works wonders for most common garden bugs: a capful of Dawn dish soap mixed into a spray bottle of water. It’s an easy, effective option that has become invaluable in my pest prevention routine, even as I aim to keep my gardening as natural as possible.

---

7. Plan for Space and Sunlight

Before planting, it’s essential to think about how much space your plants will need—not just now, but as they grow to maturity. Sprawling crops like pumpkins and squash need ample room to spread, while smaller plants like lettuce can be tucked beneath taller companions to maximize space.

Vertical gardening can also be a great solution, especially for small gardens. Trellises, cages, or arches allow plants like beans, cucumbers, and even melons to grow upward, freeing up valuable ground space.

Sunlight is another critical factor. Most fruits and vegetables thrive with 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily, but some plants have different preferences. Heat-loving crops like tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants crave full sun all day, while leafy greens like lettuce and spinach often benefit from a bit of afternoon shade to prevent wilting or bolting in hot weather. Consider the natural light in your garden and arrange plants accordingly.

---

8. Include Beauty and Pollinators

Gardens aren’t just for vegetables—they’re an opportunity to create a space filled with life and beauty. I always set aside room for cut flowers and native plants that attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Not only do these blooms enhance the aesthetic of the garden, but they also play a crucial role in supporting pollination and, ultimately, the success of your crops.

When we first moved to our homestead, I prioritized planting perennials like peonies and roses. These plants take time to establish, but their payoff is worth the wait—they return year after year, growing more beautiful with time. I also added echinacea, knowing its long-term benefits as both a stunning perennial and a medicinal plant.

Each spring, I love filling the rest of the garden with zinnias. They’re one of the easiest flowers to grow, bursting with vibrant colors that brighten any space. They make stunning cut flower arrangements, especially when paired with green herbs like basil or parsley as fillers. Whether you’re adding perennials for future blooms or annuals for immediate color, incorporating flowers into your garden is a simple way to make it a more joyful, lively place.

---

9. Stay Flexible and Have Fun

Gardening comes with its fair share of challenges—unexpected weather, stubborn pests, or the occasional plant failure. These moments can be frustrating, but they’re also where the magic happens. Each challenge is an opportunity to learn, grow, and adapt. Embrace them as part of the process, and remember that gardening isn’t just about the harvest; it’s about the journey of connecting with nature and cultivating your own food.

If I’ve learned anything over the years, it’s that no two gardening seasons are the same. But that’s part of what makes it so rewarding. Lilac, my Jersey cow, will always be watching from her pasture, and my chickens will eagerly await their scraps. There’s comfort in the familiar routines, yet every year brings new adventures, unexpected challenges, and fresh lessons.

With each planting, I get closer to my dream garden—a space overflowing with life, beauty, and abundance. So stay flexible, enjoy the process, and let your garden surprise you along the way.

---

I’d love to hear how you plan your garden for 2025.

Share your ideas in the comments—I’m always inspired by other gardeners’ creativity! Let’s make this upcoming year the best one yet. 

If you’re not yet, make sure to follow me over on Instagram where I share in real time what I’m doing in my garden. And to learn more about me and my gardening journey, check out my About Me page.

Share away friends!