Arrange Your Plants

Before selecting your plants, take some time to arrange your garden or planters. Instead of planting in straight lines, stagger your plants in a slight zigzag pattern. They’ll actually absorb sunshine and water more evenly if they’re out of each other’s way, says Mary Moss-Sprague, Master Gardener and author of Stand Up and Garden: The no-digging, no-tilling, no-stooping approach to growing vegetables and herbs.

If you’ve got space, mix ornamentals and vegetables throughout your garden instead of dividing them into separate sections. You’ll save time and take advantage of companion planting. Examples include: garlic planted near roses helps keep the aphid population in check; radishes alongside spinach will keep the leaf miners away; tall flowers provide shade for lettuce.

Another helpful tip is to create microclimates in your garden by grouping plants together by shade, sun, water, and fertilizer needs. You’ll use less water and be able to maintain all the plants in one section at the same time rather than running to the four corners of your garden.

Select Spring Flowers