This is the time of the year we gardeners are thinking of what changes we should be making in our gardens for next year. Actually we are really thinking about this all the time - but fall is the logical season for clearing out and planning ahead.
Some of us keep all those ideas in our heads as we clean up the fall litter, and can envision where those new perennial cuttings will go and what new annuals will fill in that empty spot come June. Who knows if those well-thought-out ideas ever are truly put into motion. Many gardeners carefully write everything in their journals so that during those restless winter days they can read back through their notes and make decisions about spring planting. Some depend on keeping records on file cards in a box. My dad kept a little notebook in his pocket as he worked. Sticky notes will work for anything!
My favorite way of keeping track of plantings and new ideas is to first draw a plan of the entire property as close as possible to scale. I include the positions of buildings, fences, driveways etc. Then I make copies of the skeleton map.
Next, on one of my outlines, I sketch in the current vegetable gardens, flower beds, shrub borders etc. It helps if you name the beds so that when lists are made they can be labeled appropriately. For instance, my vegetable gardens would be 1 and 2; beds are called north veranda or back door herbs.
Once this information is recorded onto the map, I can now make my notes. If some out-of-control perennial is to be separated in the spring, I can indicate it is to be dug out and also where pieces are to be re-planted. If there are empty spots, a little note can be included with a suggestion. Put in a reminder to trim that overgrown shrub in early May.
Your map makes a perfect spot to sketch in proposed new beds. Now you can add those sticky notes if you had a great idea for a red and orange annual bed or some additions to the shade garden.
Be sure to date the map. Other skeleton copies can be completed seasonally and added to your collection. I always like to make a clean, neat copy at the end of the season and label things that I really did add or change.
Things will not always appear as planned - that’s gardening!
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