Planning Your Garden

A little preparation before you dig goes a long way. Follow these steps to choose the right spot and get your bed ready.

1. Choose your location. Select a spot that matches your plants’ light requirements (full sun = 6+ hours; part sun = 4–6 hours; part shade = 2–4 hours; full shade = less than 2 hours of direct sunlight). Check your plant tag or kit guide if you’re unsure of the specific needs for your plants.

2. Follow your garden design. Your kit includes a planting design created by a local garden designer. The 9-plant kit is sized for a 3×6 ft space; the 15-plant kit is sized for a 3×9 ft space. If you purchased a roll-out planting template, lay it directly in your prepared bed — the template is printed at full size so you can plant right through it without any measuring.

3. If your soil is compacted, work in a small handful of compost before planting to loosen it, but otherwise your existing soil is just fine.We chose plants that thrive in average, well-draining soil — no fertilizers or special preparation needed. The less you fuss, the better.  

Once your site is ready, head to Planting Your Plugs: The Puddling In Method.