Selecting a Site

Gardening Info Series Topic #2:
"How to Select a Garden Site"

1. When deciding where to garden, one of the most important factors to consider is the amount of available sunlight. Vegetable plants need at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day, and 8-10 hours is even better!

On a day when you can be home most of the day, make a sketch of your property, including all trees and potential gardening spaces. Throughout the day, on an hour by hour basis, record which areas of your property are receiving sunlight. Track the movement of shadows, keeping in mind that trees will be filling out soon; also remember that the sun will be higher in the sky during the summertime than it is now in early spring.

2. If you really want to garden but have no property of your own, or if you have no location on your property that gets 6 hours of sunlight per day, consider gardening at a COMMUNITY GARDEN!!!

Community gardens are scattered throughout the state of Wisconsin, especially around larger cities, and are generally very affordable. Usually, community gardens will provide you with a pre-tilled plot, give you access to water, and personally I think it's fun to chat and learn from fellow community gardening neighbors. Call your University of Wisconsin Cooperative Extension office for locations and fees for community gardens in your area.

3. For those who will be gardening at home, once you have identified some potential spots that receive adequate sunshine, choose a place that will add to the aesthetics of your home, is near access to water, will be out of the way of playing children, and does not contain any buried utility lines. In fact, if it's a new garden, state law requires that you call Diggers Hotline 3 days before you begin a new digging project.

4. If you are not sure how much space you need for your vegetable garden, let me suggest the following: START SMALL! If you've never gardened before, a 50 square foot space is probably more than big enough. That doesn't sound like a lot of space, but it's a good size for a beginner. Remember, gardens do take time, work, and some skills come with experience. There's nothing more encouraging to a new gardener than the ability to keep on top of the weeds and succeeding in growing a few crops well!

5. Other factors must also be considered when choosing a garden site. Besides sunlight, vegetable plants need space to grow underground. Avoid planting a vegetable garden too close to a tree or shrubs, as the tree roots may steal water and nutrients that your vegetable plants need. You should especially avoid situating your garden near black walnut trees, because they give off a chemical that will prevent your vegetables from growing.

6. Good soil drainage is also VERY important for growing vegetables, so avoid low, slow-draining areas on your property. Also, if you are a beginner, it's best to garden on flat ground, if possible. Soil drainage is a whole other topic in itself, so we will talk more about it in another post.

7. Finally, vegetables need healthy, fertile soil! Luckily, we can do many things to improve soil health & fertility. Again, this is an entire topic in itself, so we will dive into that next time when we discuss, "Preparing The Garden For Planting."