Winter is a great time to plan your garden for next year. If you want to take matters into your own hands, now consider taking a college extension course in landscaping design at a local university. Another option could be adult education classes from your public school system. This can save thousands of dollars by learning the basics of hard scape (e.b. patios, walkways) and soft scape (plants) design.
What type of garden?
Have an idea of the type of garden you’d like to have? For ideas ranging from water saving gardens to fruit orchards or meditation gardens, HGTV’s Web site has an excellent selection of tools, right down to suggested plant lists. If you prefer books, most book stores have significantly discounted garden books in the front of the store — often for under $10.
Line out your budget
By planning ahead, and establishing a strict budget, your garden will be a great source of joy in the spring and summer months. Use the winter to comparison shop for materials and plants. Seed companies now offer extensive on-line catalogs and competitive prices. Now is the time to plan. Some catalogs I like:
Organic garden supplies:
Gardens Alive! based in Greendale, Indiana, this cataloger carries plants, natural fertilizers and pest controls. They offer high quality lawn and garden products that work with nature.
Seeds of Change this company works to preserve biodiversity and promote sustainable, organic agriculture. They offer a range of organically grown vegetable, flower, herb and cover crop seeds.
Peaceful Valley good prices and great name. They also have a very informative blog. Like the others, they really promote and work toward supporting bio-diversity and sustainable planting practices.
Other Catalogs:
Burpee the granddaddy of catalogs — lots of flowers and bulbs
White Flower Farm has beautiful selections
Monticello Thomas Jefferson’s home has orchards, gardens, herbs and flowers galore. They also offer many items for sale — from seeds to accessories.
Do you have a favorite catalog? Let us know.