How to Get Free Garden Designs

Inspiration for garden designs can come from almost anywhere.

Part of the joy of working in a yard or garden is the design planning — drawing sketches of the yard and deciding what to plant and where. New gardeners need a little help with making up a garden design and planting plan, and there are resources available with free garden designs.

Things You'll Need

• Internet
• Public Library
• Coop Extension office
• Nursery & Garden supply stores

Instructions

1. Visit online sites (some good ones are listed below) that offer free garden designs to help the customer be more creative in their choices of plants and other garden features.

2. Browse gardening books and magazines at the public library and make copies or flag pages of ideas you'd like to incorporate into your own plan. While you're there, be sure to pick up a good encyclopedic reference book on plant species and how to plant and care for them. These are invaluable resources when it comes to choosing plants for specific climate conditions.

3. Ask at local garden supply centers and nurseries for any free information that helps the homeowner in designing an irrigation system or other planting projects. Staff members at gardening centers are usually happy to answer questions and offer advice on specific gardening topics.

4. Contact local cooperative extension offices to learn about free design information. Many extension services have free fliers and booklets to help with agricultural, horticultural, and landscaping designs that are appropriate for the local climate. You can also call a master gardener help line for more specific advice.

5. Visit home and garden expos and shows when they come to town. Vendors will have many different displays showing how to use their products and often have booklets and fliers with free garden design ideas.

1. Notice the yards and gardens that you like in your neighborhood. Make a quick sketch and list of the plants used. Think about how you can adapt the best ideas for your own yard and draw out a similar design using your yard's dimensions to see what works.

Tips & Warnings

• Make up different garden plans, one for long-lived plants and trees and one for short term annual and bedding plants, to keep your overall goals in mind.

• Make up different garden plans. One for long lived plants and trees and one for short term annual and bedding plants to keep the overall goals in mind.

Resources

• xeriscape design ideas
• Spring Hill
• BHG
• Vegetable garden design