The Real Dirt

In keeping with the Patrick Ranch Museum's mission to enhance people's understanding and appreciation of our community's rich agricultural heritage, a half-acre plot planted in heirloom almond varieties is situated between the Museum's entry road and the Master Gardener Demonstration Garden.

Our conclusion to this series on Garden Design Basics leads you through the final steps needed to create your new landscape. Eager as you may be to get your plants into the ground, this ultimate preparation phase is as important as all of the others.

Welcome to this special interval in our series on Planting Design Basics. Before diving into our final installment, Is my yard ready to plant?, let's explore how to develop an appropriate list of plants for your newly designed yard.

Site map and analysis completed, per Part One? Check! Garden style selected, per Part Two? Check! Welcome to Part Three, where the focus is: What plant jobs need to be filled in my garden? Plants jobs can be functional, aesthetic, or both. Functional jobs affect the use of the garden.

In Part One, What Can I Give My Plants, you were encouraged to analyze your planting site, and to determine the existing conditions in your garden space.