How to Plan and Prepare a Backyard Garden from Scratch

Choosing the right site is the first step in garden making. Sunlight is the primary factor—avoid north-facing spots unless growing shade-tolerant plants like ferns. A southern exposure is ideal: rows running north-south receive morning sun on the east side and afternoon sun on the west, promoting even growth. For southeast-facing gardens, orient rows northwest-southeast.

Planning on Paper

Sketch your garden plan before planting. It saves time, prevents overbuying seeds, and helps visualize spacing and succession planting.

Preparing the Ground

New garden spots are usually turf or rubbish. For small areas, remove sod by staking the perimeter, cutting edges with a spade, and rolling up strips like carpet. For larger plots, divide into 1-foot strips. Don't discard sod—stack grass-side down to create a compost pile. Add green waste throughout summer and autumn leaves in fall for rich fertilizer.

Soil Refinement

Spading alone leaves large lumps. Break them up, then use a rake to pulverize soil into fine particles. Seeds need close contact with fine soil for germination; large lumps leave air gaps roots can't penetrate. Hoeing should be shallow—just enough to control weeds and maintain dust mulch for moisture retention. Raking creates the smooth, fine seedbed essential for success.