5 questions to consider before starting a garden: How Much?
We are answering the 4th question of this blog series: How Much?
How much time do you want to spend in the garden each week?
How much space do you have for your garden?
How much is your budget for this new endeavor?
How much time will you spend in the garden? The answer will vary depending on your wants, set up, and what you planted.
Gardening can be a means to slowing down and spending a few minutes in nature, away from noise and screens. It can be self-care. It is good for my soul, good for my body. I choose to spend a few minutes in the garden almost every morning and a few afternoons every week. Imagine starting your day in the quietness of the garden- the calming effect it will have on you might actually increase your gardening time. (Cue in Brad Paisley here, cup of hot coffee in hand)
The setup you choose will also impact how much time it takes to have a thriving garden. For example, if you have an automatic watering system with a timer and soaker hoses, it will be less time. Gardening in a raised bed will greatly diminish the weeding you will have to do.
What you are growing will also impact your gardening time. Herbs, leafy greens, and root vegetables will not require much tending besides being planted, watered, and harvested. Fruiting vegetables (like tomatoes) and vining plants (like melons or cucumbers) will need more hands on tending and time.
Plan on spending a few hours at the beginning of each growing seasons to prepare the soil and plant your seeds and seedlings. I do that three times a year (spring, summer, fall). After that, 10-30 minutes a day to water, harvest, and implement succession planting should be all you need to have a thriving garden. You can certainly spend more time than that if you want to!
How much space? Please set your expectations when it comes to space. A raised bed is awesome because it allows you to plant the vegetables a lot closer together than in-ground gardening. A 4ft x 8ft raised bed will allow you to have hundreds of dollars worth of fresh herbs, fresh greens, and organic vegetables! Nothing beats fresh-picked produce! However, having 32 square feet of garden will not be the same as having 3 acres of land to farm- thankfully a lot less hard work too!
Decide how big you want your garden to be so you are not overwhelmed but you have enough space to grow your desired amount of food.
Don’t dismiss the space you have. You might not have a huge backyard, but you can still grow food where you are. If your space is limited, a border garden bed or a patio herb planter might work great.
Ok, ready to talk money?! How much does a garden cost?
No one wants to be surprised when it comes to project in and around the house. Determine what is your budget and choose your garden style accordingly. A good set up can definitely add to the beauty of your property. Your budget will impact the amount and variety of food you will grow. I believe everyone can grow some fresh food. If your budget allows for one small container and a few herbs- then start there. If you can go big, then do it!
Though this is approximate, a DIY garden project will be around $50 per square feet of garden space and a turnkey installation will be approximately $150 per square feet of garden space, depending on the materials that you pick. Keep in mind that inflation impacts the cost of lumber and landscape materials. In the image above, the two garden beds provide 64 square feet of growing space.
How much? That’s a good question to ask yourself. Every year I wish for more of the garden, because the garden is a happy place!