Writing Your Garden Reflection

Every fall I like to take the time to write down all of the things that worked well in my garden, along with the things that did not work so well. I call it my “Garden Reflection”.

It’s an exercise that you should absolutely do too! The best time to do it is at the end of the year while the gardening season is still fresh in your mind, rather than waiting until spring to try to remember everything.

So make yourself some hot chocolate, sit down, and take a few minutes to reflect on your gardening season. Then grab a piece of paper and a pen, and start writing everything down. Here are some writing prompts you can use to get the juices flowing…

What worked well in your garden this year?

Start by writing down all of the things that went well in your garden this year, everything that you’re the most proud of or happy with. In short: what were your biggest WINS!

Examples

• You had a bumper crop of peas this year.
• The annuals you planted in the front flower bed looked amazing!
• Your squash did much better growing on a trellis rather than on the ground.
• The compost you added made a world of difference in your summer vegetable garden.

Don’t skimp on your list – write down ALL of your wins, no matter how big or small – because these are the things you’re going to want to remember to do again next year.

What didn’t work so well?

Next, think about the things that didn’t go so well in your garden this year, or that you wish would have turned out better. In short: What were your biggest struggles?

Examples:

• Your potted plants dried out so quickly that you had to water them twice a day.
• Your broccoli plants didn’t produce any heads.
• You were overwhelmed with with WAY too many cucumbers and didn’t know what to do with them.

Make sure you write down ALL of the challenges you faced in your garden this year, even if they were “good problems”. These are the things that you’re going to want to avoid doing again next year, or improve upon.

How can you improve your garden next year?

Now that you have your list of the good, the bad, and the ugly (aka: your garden reflection), it’s time to make a list of changes or improvements. Here are some writing prompts for you:

What changes can you make to avoid the biggest issues you faced in your garden this year? Add all of your ideas to the list – whether you know how to accomplish them yet or not. In short: write down what your dream garden looks like.

Examples:

What could you do to make watering your potted plants easier? Could you add a drip irrigation system, put less plants in each pot, or simply use larger pots?

If you were overwhelmed by cucumbers this summer, is the fix as simple as making a note to yourself to plant less seeds – or heck, maybe you set a goal to learn how to can them next fall instead of planting less?

Why do you think your broccoli didn’t form any heads? Can you give them more space, better sunlight, or water them more consistently? Oooor even easier – maybe you just don’t grow them next year and try something new in that spot instead.

Write down whatever you can think of that will help you remember to build on your successes, and any ideas you have for making improvements to solve each of the problems on your list.

Your Garden Reflection Is Pure Gold

It might feel like this is a silly exercise, but trust me friends, the garden reflection that you write will be pure gold. In the spring, you can use your list to help you plan your garden season. This way you’ll build on your successes, and avoid repeating any epic failures!

It’s also a good reminder of all of of things that you’ve learned over the year, how far you’ve come in your gardening journey, and to celebrate all of the BIG WINS you’ve had.

Oh, and make sure to keep your list. Next year, you can use it to help you create your next garden reflection. You can even use it as a tool to track your progress from year to year, and see how you continue to improve each season.

Plus, it’s so much fun to read through the lists from previous years. Trust me, you’ll thank yourself later!

More Garden Care Tips

• How To Transplant Plants In Your Garden
• How To Measure Sun Exposure In Your Garden
• How To Spread Mulch In Your Garden Beds

Leave a comment below and let me know: what was your biggest gardening WIN this year, what did you struggle with the most, or what does your dream garden look like?