Written By Lara Wadsworth

What was the best tomato variety you grew last year? When was the last time you fertilized your roses? How long has it been since you pruned your apple tree? What was that new variety of carrot you heard about last fall? If you have a hard time answering these types of questions, a garden journal is just what you need. Garden journals are a low-effort, high-reward way to improve your garden year after year! In short, a garden journal is a record you keep throughout the year about what you do, when, and how it went. It doesn’t have to be extensive or time-consuming to be effective! Check out these tips to continue improving your garden year after year.

Why Keep a Garden Journal?

Garden journals allow you to have better planning from year to year, fewer repeat mistakes, and more satisfying gardening wins. I know I have a terrible memory, and so my garden journal is essential to help me remember when I did what and why. It enables you to remember key dates, save time and money, spot patterns, celebrate your progress, and track what works and what doesn’t. This information will make planning your garden each year easier and easier as the years go on.

What to Include in a Garden Journal

• Important dates
• Significant weather changes
• Last spring frost
• What you planted, when, and where
• Where you purchased your seeds, seedlings, and materials
• Pest and other problems (with dates!)
• General layout sketch
• Wishlists and notes for next year
• Anything else you would find useful to reflect on

Digital vs. Paper Garden Journals

The way you record your journal is entirely up to you. I personally prefer to record mine digitally on a Google Doc and Garden Planner so that I can easily access it anytime I have access to the internet. If I’m out in my garden, I will use a notebook to record my thoughts and sketches, but then I will transfer them to my document once inside. Some people prefer the paper-only copy. It is entirely up to your preference!

Your journal can be as simple as an organized list or as fancy as a pre-made, pre-organized bound notebook. There are also downloadable templates online! You really just need to try a few options out and decide what you like to use. The best garden journal is the one you will use consistently. Of course, you can always add your own creative touches like images, stickers, pressed flowers, sketches, and colors! As long as you’re easily able to record your experiences and you consistently do so, it is a good journal.

A Simple Garden Journal Template That Works

I’m a simple girl. Some people have called me efficient and utilitarian in the past, and I take it as a compliment. So, for me, I have a document with three bulleted sections to help me keep track.

• Varieties Grown
• Timeline
• Notes For Next Year

I find that everything fits into one of those three categories. As I’m planning my garden, I write out all the varieties I am planning to grow. Then, as the season progresses, I update that section with how many of the plants make it into the garden. As they grow, I continue to take note of any important thoughts I have about them. The “timeline” section is where the bulk of my note-taking takes place. I will write notes about the weather, when I started my seedlings, when I hardened them off, when I planted them outside, what changes I made to the garden layout, when and what pests or diseases I notice, etc. I always accompany any notes in this section with a date to help me keep track the season.

An important part of keeping a garden journal is taking note of what should be changed for the next year or season. In the last section, keep notes about what you plan to change moving forward. If I hear about a variety I want to grow, but it’s too late in the season to get it into the garden, I will write it here to consider for next year. If I have notes about what to plant where, companion planting, or varieties I’m loving, I will note them here. I’m sure you can see the flow here!

Pro Tips for Keeping Up With Your Journal

Be consistent! A garden journal is only helpful if it actually contains the relevant information you need from year to year. Keep your journal somewhere you can easily access it. Whether it’s online or physical, keep it in a way that allows quick access to jot down notes so it doesn’t become a chore.

Alternatively, set a time each week to have a “date” with your garden journal where you write down all your notes from that week at one time. Whatever gets the job done is what you need to do! Don’t be discouraged if it takes some trial and error to become consistent. Value progress over perfection!

Don’t overfill your journal. If you write down every little gust of wind you feel, insect you see, and exactly how many clouds passed by each day, you will get overwhelmed quickly. The journal at the end of the year will be so big that it will be hard to decipher which information is most important. So, keep it short and sweet. Focus on the critical dates and events that will help you to plant more effectively next year.

Your Garden Journal Is a Growing Tool

So, what are you waiting for? Dive in! Grab any old notebook and pen or open a quick document and start notetaking. It just takes a little bit of time each week to result in huge payoffs down the line. As long as it works for you, it’s a win! Over time, it’ll become more than a log of plant care; it’ll be a record of your own growth, too.

Lara Wadsworth, True Leaf Market Writer

I am a native of Southwestern Michigan, where I currently reside. I love all things plants! After completing a Bachelor's Degree in Horticulture, I found a dream work-from-home job that allows me to share my passion. Now, I spend my days writing for TLM, playing with my dog, eating delicious food with my husband, and plotting my next landscape or gardening move. I believe everyone should get down and dirty in the soil now and then. Happy Gardening!