Managing Your Garden with a Garden Spreadsheet
A garden spreadsheet is useful for a first-time gardening enthusiast or a pro gardener. Gardening requires a lot of care. With a spreadsheet to keep track of everything you need to do, it’s easier to ensure that your garden is managed well.
What Is a Garden Planning Spreadsheet?
Whether you want to start a window herb garden or a beautiful flower garden in your backyard, gardening requires a lot of planning. From planning where to buy the seeds and when to plant them, to regular garden care, to taking care of the harvest, there is a lot to do. While this may seem overwhelming to a beginner gardener, it doesn’t have to be difficult.
This is where a garden planning spreadsheet can help you. Basically, it’s a list of everything you need to do to take care of your garden—all the what, when, where, and how. It starts from finding the best layout for your garden, to planting and harvesting your plants.
What Is Inside a Garden Planning Spreadsheet?
Generally, these are some of the basic information you need to consider in your garden planning.
- Garden layout
What to plant and where to plant them? Consider how you want to organize your garden. The different parts of your garden may receive different amounts of sunlight at different times of the day. Certain areas in your yard may be better for your plants.
- List of plants
List the names of seeds you buy, how many of them, and how much they cost. You can also write down the characteristics of each plant. For example, certain plants are seasonal, while there are also perennial plants.
- Important dates
Plan when to sow your seeds, calculate the sowing date, create a growing schedule, and predict the potential harvest dates. The time to sow seeds or harvest your produce also differs depending on the type of the seeds you plant.
- Task list
Gardening involves a lot of responsibilities, especially if you have a large garden. A task list helps you make sure that you don’t miss any of your regular watering and fertilization schedule, or any other important tasks.
Benefits of a Garden Planning Spreadsheet
Why should you have a garden planning spreadsheet? Whether you’re new or a seasoned gardener, there are many benefits that you can reap from having a spreadsheet.
- You Will Not Miss Anything
Being a first-time gardener is challenging. There are so many things to do that ensure your plants grow healthy, and it’s very easy to miss things. Gardening will be easier if you have a list of what you need to do and when to do it.
- You Have Increased Productivity
With a garden planning list, you can make sure that you do everything you need to do and your plants can grow well. So, your garden will grow well and give the produce you desire.
- More Informed Decision-Making
A garden planning spreadsheet allows you to do many things, from planning your garden to potential harvest dates. By knowing all you need to do, you can make more informed decisions and plan well. This way, you can have better results.
Creating Your Own Garden Planning Spreadsheet
It’s very easy to make your own spreadsheet. There are specific software and applications to plan and manage your garden for sophisticated gardeners. But everyone can start with a program that is cheap and easily accessible such as Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets.
In fact, you can find many spreadsheet templates online that you can use. Even the official Microsoft Office website has an Excel garden spreadsheet. Good luck with your garden!