Garden Journals: No Green Thumb Required

If I were to walk around my house and count them, I would say that I probably have about ten to fifteen journals that I keep. I am an organizer-type personality and I like how they help me keep things and thoughts together. Some are used for daily writings and others are just occasionally updated.

One of my ‘seasonal' journals comes off my bookshelf each spring. It is my garden journal and in it I keep track of information about my yard. The journal is divided into sections that include front yard, back yard, container gardens and accessories. Each of those sections contain additional information about the following:

• Plantings: I try to save the tags that come with the plant, shrub or tree. This helps remind me about the specifics of that particular type, such as whether it needs full sun or partial shade and how often to fertilize. If I do any research on my own about the plant, I usually add notes about that as well. I also try to include information about where it was purchased and the year it was planted so I have an idea of its maturity.
• Landscape ideas: I love to look through landscaping and gardening magazines. They are so inspiring to me. Whenever I see something that I think would add to the beauty of my yard, I clip it out and add it to my journal. I have found that this part of my journal is the one that changes the most. It is fun to see how my taste in landscaping has changed over the years.
• Yard decorations: Again, these can be clippings from magazines or books that show a particular decoration that has caught my eye or an idea for using something that I already own in a new way. I try to mix my yard up each year and move decorations around to different locations to add to the appeal. I also like to note the cost of the particular item (if available), so I know when I am out shopping whether I am paying a fair price.
• My Yard: In this section, I like to keep photos from year to year of the actual yard. It is fun to look back and see the growth of different plants. It is also a place where I keep notes about what plants survived in my climate and what ones didn't. I have noticed over the years that plants from one nursery grow better than the others, so I try to stick to that brand when I can.
  
  
  

All in all, keeping track of this information helps to remind me how to care for the yard that I already have and to make better decisions about purchases in the future.