Situating your garden in just the right spot is the first step to gardening success. You need to get several things right: sunlight, drainage, soil, and proximity to water. Don't forget it's a bit chilly here in Belleville, so be sure your garden is in a protected, sunny location.

Ready to talk about where gardens do best in Belleville homes for sale? Read on, and learn from the tips compiled by our real estate agents.

• Find the Sunniest Location on Your Property
  Don't even think about planting a garden in partial shade. It won't do. Your vegetable garden and most perennial and annual plants will need 8-10 hours of full sunlight; minimal, 6 hours. Hint: South-facing yards get the most sun; north-facing yards the least. Now, if you want a shade garden with plants that do well without bright sun, such as hostas, then by all means, choose a shady location. Some vegetable plants, such as broccoli, kale, spinach, and lettuce, will tolerate some sun; in fact, these crops do better in cooler locations. 
  
  
• Look For Good Drainage
  Find a location where the soil drains well and there is no ponding or puddling. Wet, boggy spots will drown your plants and rot their roots. Stay away from areas where de-icing chemicals might contaminate. Also, avoid ground that slopes too much. You want the garden to be as level as possible.
  
  
• Protect Your Plants From Wind
  Wind can dry your plants out. It might seem that planting next to a wall or solid fence is good protection for your plants, but on the contrary, these locations can generate destructive turbulence between the solid walls and the plants. It's better to plant a windbreak around the garden or else to erect a woven fence around the plot.
  
  
• Avoid Planting Near Walls, Fences, and Under Trees
  The soil in these locations tends to dry out faster in hot, dry spells, so avoid planting in these locations. You will need to plan for extra watering in hot, dry times. 
  
  
• Locate the Garden as Close to the Home as You Can
  You might think the proximity of your garden to your home is no big deal. However, you will find that the closer the garden is to the home, the more likely you are to go outside and weed, water, fertilize, and otherwise care for your plants.
  
  
• Consider Barriers to Protect the Garden From Animal Pests
  Whatever the pests -- rabbits, deer, voles, woodchucks, squirrels, gophers, moles, or raccoons -- locate your garden where you can also erect a fence or other type of barrier to exclude the animals. You've likely determined what kind of critters you will encounter in your garden, so be prepared to fend them off. With underground intruders such as gophers, line raised vegetable beds with hardware cloth 18 to 24 inches below the soil surface.

We can also answer questions about selling your home. Contact us today.