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Tracking your gardens progress

NikonPhilNikonPhil Posts: 31
in Tools and techniques
Hi everyone,
My new garden is much larger than my old garden, and I'm interested to know how other gardeners track their own garden management.
For example - do you use database tools, on-line web based tools, pen & paper etc. to plan your garden, keep track of what you planted, where you planted it, how well it is doing, what needs to be done, when it needs doing etc.? Or do you just rely on memory, visual stimulation, experience or a logbook maybe?

Personally, I use a logbook, but is this the best method?

Just curious to know...
Phil
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Posts

  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    I take a lot of photos and I have a garden notebook.
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    I started off using a notebook and photos but went on to spreadsheets as they make me happy.
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    edited November 2019
    I try to photo the garden every month or so and also keep a handwritten diary every night, with what I've done in the garden, what's been bought and planted, what's been dug up, moved or binned etc and what the weather's been like. I find it very relaxing. I've now got 12 years of notebooks to read back and remember what I've done.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    I keep meaning to take more photos, but never get round to it, or anything else. If I'm out there, I'm gardening.
    Devon.
  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,529
    I take photos of each border sequentially, left to right, then label each plant by dropping a text box on the photo - helps me remember what and where everything is. Its very useful to identify where perennials are especially, when they die right back over winter. Then I repeat the process the following year so I can see how things have developed, changes I have made, things I have hoiked out as they weren’t working etc.

    For veg I take a more scientific approach and have spreadsheets of rotation plans, notes on varieties etc.
    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I take photos, but I don't do it to keep track of what's there. I've started noting when I sow seeds, but that's about all. My garden isn't that big, but if it was bigger, I might do drawings with the various planting plans.
    If I put bulbs in, I leave a marker, but otherwise, I can remember what I've planted the vast majority of the time.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Papi JoPapi Jo Posts: 4,254
    I use both a database programme on my local computer and complement it with my online garden site at http://www.rezeau.org/wp-garden/en/
    I try to keep track of all my plants and regularly update their progress. My site is bilingual but primarily French, so the French details are up-to-date but the English part is only updated from time to time.
    There is also a detailed garden map which displays the exact position of each specimen (or group of specimens). And of course lots of photos, taken at various times of the year, year after year.
    All this is probably over the top for the needs of most gardeners, but computing and photography are two of my hobbies which complement my hobby as a gardener. ;)
    You are welcome to browse my garden site. Looking forward to your comments, questions, etc.

    PS.- Can we infer from your forum pseudo that you own a Nikon camera?
  • StevedaylillyStevedaylilly Posts: 1,102
    Have a garden diary on my iPad 
    I update it on what work I have carried out on that day, including plant type and positions. Use it a a reference if I move plants or remove plants so that I remember why and when. Also keep reminders on pruning and feeding times for plants/shrubs  
  • NikonPhilNikonPhil Posts: 31
    Hi All,
    Thanks for your responses - quite a varied approach which I should have expected I suppose.
    I started with a layout drawing of what I was hoping to achieve and is still the master plan, however, I have broken the plan down into 'zones' with each zone end marked by specific fence posts (i.e zone 1 = post 1 to 4, zone 2 = post 4 to 6 etc.) I can then work on each area independently of the big plan and can keep track of what is planted, where etc. The zone borders are roughly carved into a grid left, centre, right and front, middle, and back.
    I don't store photographs of the plants through the seasons, although I could and may do going forward. What this doesn't do is inform me of activities I need to do and when (like a prompter), I'll have to work on that...

    @Papi Jo 
    I looked around your website and it's very slick! It seems we may have things in common... I am a retired software developer (old school), who loves photography, so yes the Nikon implies I own a few (4 at the moment :)), and of course - gardening..

    Phil
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    Am I the only person who never has enough spare time on my hands to do all this stuff?
    Devon.
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