Teachers > School Garden > Planning A Garden

Planning a Garden

School Garden

The garden committee will be most successful in starting a garden with a plan in place. During this combined group effort, think about as many aspects of the garden as possible to guide your decisions. Outlined in this chapter are four steps for the garden committee to follow.

Key steps to planning a garden:

Setting GoalsHave the entire garden committee present when discussing a vision for the garden. This will provide everyone with an opportunity to share their input and ideas for their goals of the garden. At the initial garden committee meeting, start with an open group discussion of the following questions:

Why does everyone want a garden?

Some of the benefits include helping establish better eating habits, learning how to grow food and building community relationships. Realize that many people may have different reasons for wanting to participate in this garden, which will add diversity and flexibility to the committee.

Children working in a school garden, tending to vegetable plots in raised beds, with some doing activities like planting or weeding.

What will the garden look like?

There are different types of garden options and what can be planted. Think about the location and scale of the garden, how many people will be involved, what types of plants the committee wants to grow and how much the garden will produce.

How much time, energy and money do you want to invest in this garden?

Setting realistic expectations about your resources will help guide decision making about the garden. It is always a good idea to start small; keep in mind there is always room to grow!

Here are some additional things to consider when setting goals:

  • How can you expand beyond just a garden?
  • What experiences and activities do you hope to incorporate into the classroom?
  • What role will the community play in the garden?
  • Who are you growing the produce for?
  • What other community partners will the garden support?
  • How will the garden impact the children’s attitudes and decisions toward healthy food choices?
  • How can you raise awareness about getting food from the farm to the table?

A hand holding a compass over a colorful landscape design plan, featuring garden layouts and various shapes.

The design phase is a creative part of the garden planning process which allows for a unique garden to be created based on the individual contributions of the garden committee. Their contributions will help them remain active and engaged once the garden is established. When searching for ideas, some places to look are other preschools/schools, botanical gardens, magazines, garden shows and online resources. Include the ideas of children in the design phase; their imagination will drive their interest in participation. To keep the garden design on track, reference the shared vision and goals previously set. It is important to conduct an initial assessment before beginning the design process. The assessment should include an inspection and evaluation of the growing and environmental conditions of potential areas.

Criteria to consider when designing the garden site

A table outlining elements and assessment criteria for evaluating a garden location, including garden location, size and existing features, soil quality, sunlight exposure, water sources, water flow and drainage, in-ground utilities, accessibility, security and safety, and future uses.

After the location has been selected, start creating a list of what will be included in the garden. Listed below are components typically found in a garden. After the assessment, decide where to locate the garden and which components to feature in the garden. After an initial tour, start creating a garden component inventory of infrastructure and landscape features. This will help the committee determine what to include in the garden.

Components typically found in a garden

A table listing garden design components, including garden beds, walkways, irrigation, sitting areas, tool shed, compost areas, fencing, and trees/shrubs, along with their respective functions, emphasizing aspects like accessibility, traffic control, water conservation, space for outdoor lessons, and environmental benefits.

 

Choosing which garden bed to use is important when selecting the type of garden, and this will depend on the available resources and interests of the garden committee. Below are descriptions to help you decide which garden bed is the best fit for your location.

The table below lists commonly used supplies for each type of garden.

A chart comparing tools and supplies needed for three types of gardens: in-ground garden beds, raised garden beds, and container gardens. Each column lists specific items required for each garden type.

A person's arms resting on a table, one holding a pencil over an open notebook, with a red folder, a laptop, a glass of drink, and headphones visible nearby.

As a part of the planning process, the garden committee should create a preliminary budget. This is an important step for the committee to take when deciding what is possible with the available garden funds.

The following table is a sample budget of items typically needed for a garden. This may not be a complete list of everything needed to plan a complete budget; use this table as a guide.

Sample budget of items typically needed for a garden

A table displaying garden supplies, including items such as seeds, soil, gloves, and tools, along with their quantities and costs.

When reviewing your budget, remember to ask two things:

  1. Is everything in the budget allowed to be purchased according to any funding guidelines? Ask your funder if you have questions!
  2. Where is the best place to purchase materials? Shop around before making all your big purchases. There are many community members and organizations willing to donate garden items. Keep this in mind when you start buying tools, supplies and soil for the garden.

 

A variety of fresh vegetables arranged on a light surface, including potatoes, tomatoes, zucchini, broccoli, carrots, red and yellow bell peppers, garlic, radishes, and leafy greens.

There are many things to consider when choosing your crops:

  • What will you grow and how much?
  • When do crops need to be planted?
  • Do the children have favorite fruits and vegetables?
  • What is easy to grow?

 

Some plants are easier to grow while others are less expensive. The table below will help you select what to plant based on your garden plan.

Easy To Grow Crops

  • Radishes
  • Summer Squash
  • Cucumbers
  • Beans
  • Peas
  • Sunflowers
  • Cilantro
  • Corn
  • Lettuce
  • Carrots

Cost Cutting Crops

  • Sweet Potato
  • Zucchini
  • Cucumbers
  • Heirloom Tomatoes
  • Peppers
  • Eggplant
  • Garlic
  • Lettuce
  • Broccoli
  • Squash

Herbs

  • Parsley
  • Chives
  • Rosemary
  • Thyme
  • Dill
  • Mint
  • Marjoram
  • Oregano
  • Sage
  • Basil

Determine what can be grown during each of the four seasons. Due to the climate zones in South Carolina, there are many fruits and vegetables that grow year round. Vegetables can be divided into cool and warm season crops. Clemson Extension’s Home & Garden Information Center can help guide you to what grows best throughout the year in your area.

A chart detailing cool season vegetables, with columns for plant varieties, optimal planting months (from early August to mid-November), and days to maturity from seed, showcasing specific planting times for beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, collards, lettuce, radishes, spinach, and turnips.

A color-coded chart listing warm season vegetables, their planting schedule across March to May, and days to maturity from seed. Each vegetable variety is aligned with specific planting weeks and associated maturity times.

This chart provides guidance on what types of plants grow best together. For example, planting basil next to tomatoes help to protect tomatoes from worms and spider mites. Other combinations are included in this chart.

What types of plants grow best together

A grid chart showing a plant compatibility matrix, listing various herbs and vegetables along the top and side, with colored squares indicating compatibility relationships between them.

 

Rotating Crops

To maintain rich soil, it is recommended to rotate crops. This technique, known as crop rotation, is a method in which plantings are cycled season after season. The figure below shows a basic pattern to follow.

Fall
(Root Crops)
Winter
(Leafy Greens)
Spring
(Legumes)
Summer
(Fruits)
Beets Cabbage Beans Cucumbers
Garlic Herbs Edamame Peppers
Carrots Kale Lima Beans tomatoes
Onion Lettuce Peas
Radishes Spinach
Turnips