Whether you're newly moved into the house you acquired from among Berlin homes for sale or Jackson homes for sale, or you've been there a while, and it's the first chance you've had to start a vegetable garden—this is the time to get going. No matter what the weather this spring, there are things you can do to prepare for planting. 

Our real estate agents are on the ball, answering clients' questions about buying or selling homes and rounding up tips to help make a homeowner's experience more successful. Here are a few about vegetable garden prepping.

1. Find the right location for your garden.
   Look for a sunny spot for your garden. Your plants will need 6-8 hours of sunlight a day unless you intend to grow greens, which can tolerate some shadier conditions. The general rule is 5-7 hours for root crops; and 7-8 hours for flowering crops.
   
   Other things to consider: Try to find a flat, level spot. Working on a slope is no fun. Locate your garden near a source of water, and avoid windy spots. Avoid places that pool water; you want a site that drains well. Look for a site with good soil; if you don't have one, creating a raised bed is best.
   
   
2. Mark out the boundaries of your garden.
   Unless you're an experienced gardener and can devote lots of time to working in the garden, limit its size. If you're planting in the ground, limit your garden to 10x10 feet. If you're making a raised bed, restrict the size to 4x8 feet. Mark out the borders with rope or string and stakes. You can also delineate sides with spray paint. If you're creating a curved border for your garden, use a garden hose to mark the borders.
   
   Not a beginner? You could go as large as 12x24 feet in a big suburban lot. Just think about how much work you want to do—weeding, watering, and controlling pests. Be sure to leave rows between your plantings so you can work the garden easily. 
   
   
3. Add a frame for a raised bed.
   If you go for a raised bed—a great way to grow vegetables and flowers—you can either make a frame with boards or buy it ready-made. You can find online instructions for building a raised-bed frame or order a ready-made raised garden bed frame from various online sources. 
   
   
4. Improve your soil.
   Whether you plant directly into the ground or in a framed raised bed, you want to provide the best soil possible. Start by loosening the soil with a fork to a depth of 8-12 inches. Then add 2-4 inches of compost, mixing it with the soil if it's your first garden. If you've worked it before, just layer the compost. Level the garden bed with a rake.
   
   
5. Check frost dates to ensure success.
   For some plants, avoiding frost will be more critical than others. In our area, May 20th is the average date to expect the last frost of spring. If you're taking a chance and planting early, have some sort of protection handy. Many types of frost protection exist, from plant covers to blankets to various garden cloches.  

All set to plant your garden? Glad we could help. Let us know if you've got questions about buying or listing a property. Contact us today.