This was an idea that I got from showing a property quite some years ago.
The seller had gone to the trouble of drawing a map of her yard and noted every single perennial that grew in each spot and identified what each plant was. How awesome was that!!!!! Mind you, it was just a sketch on drawing paper but it doesn’t need to be fancy! I was able to get a copy for my buyers so that they could hold onto it for future reference. It’s so nice to know what to expect in your new yard especially when you purchase your home in the winter months ( which can be a 6 month span here in the Berkshires lol)
This is also the perfect time of year to do this! As we see that green stuff start to pop it’s head here and there, you can just start to jot down what and where everything is.
I am going to try and get my garden map started this spring! I have zero intention of selling my home but I think it’s a great resource to have even for my own planning. I already started weeding a few weeks ago and accidentally dug up the roots of what appeared to be a perennial. Ooops.
There are also great software programs that not only allow you to draw your yard but also has a huge list of plants and flowers that you can click and drag to various parts of the drawing. Most are free and might have a small for a software upgrade or added features.
It doesn’t matter how you put it together, whether it be fancy or just a quick sketch. You will also thank yourself the next year when you pat yourself on the back for having a road map of what’s coming up in your garden! That way, you won’t find yourself digging up dirt for a new flower to then discover that you just dug up a bulb and root system of a lovely lily that WAS going to pop up in a few weeks!
Also remember that this will be an ongoing sketch. Plan on starting it in the end of April and working on it through September. If you have kids, get them involved! Have them keep an eye out for anything new that might be “ popping up” and let them add it to the drawing.
Would love to hear how you all do with this project. This is a great year to work on it as many of us are still spending more time than ever in our yards and homes.