Get your green thumb on with these plant journal ideas!

What is a Plant Journal?

If you're the type of gardener who likes to reflect on your successes (and failures), a garden journal can be a valuable tool. Use it to record your gardening goals, track plantings and maintenance, and note what works (and what doesn't). You can also use your journal to make sketches of garden designs, jot down ideas for new projects, and keep track of the names and sources of plants you get. If you've never kept a garden journal before, start by brainstorming a list of topics you might want to include.

Many gardeners like to keep track of the plants in their garden, so you might want to create a plant list. You could also make note of the birds and other wildlife you see in your garden, or jot down the dates of the first and last frost in your area. Other possible topics include a list of garden tools and supplies, a calendar of gardening tasks, and a record of your garden's progress throughout the season.

How to keep a Plant Journal?

There are no rules on how to keep a garden journal.
Try to find time to record something every day or so, and record the important things as soon as possible so you don’t forget.

Here are some things you may want to record in your journal:

• A sketch of your garden layout from season to season. This can help you plan where to put new plants, or make changes to the existing layout.
• Pictures of your garden. Include pictures of plants in bloom, as well as any unusual-looking plants or garden features.
• Bloom times. Knowing when your plants bloom can help you plan for future years.
• A list of thriving plants and those to avoid in the future. This can help you choose plants that will do well in your garden, and avoid those that don't.
• Plant sources. Keep track of where you got your plants, so you can either buy more of the same in the future or avoid that source if the plants don't do well.
•  and receipts. This can help you track how much money you're spending on your garden, and also help with insurance claims if you have to file any.
• Daily, weekly and monthly observations. Write down what you see happening in the garden on a regular basis. This can help you spot problems early and track your plants' progress.
• Make a note of the dates when you split your perennials.
• Keep an electronic plant journal like our plant care app - Ploi