Best place for a veggie garden...

[BirdLover72]

My yard is long and I'm not sure of the best place for a garden..
here are some pic of the backyard..We are thinking of building a deck on the end of the house..and taking down the pine tree to maybe put in a gazebo.
[img]https://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/CountryLisa/yard/DSCF0003.jpg[/img]
[img]https://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/CountryLisa/yard/DSCF0004.jpg[/img]
[img]https://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/CountryLisa/yard/DSCF0005.jpg[/img]
[img]https://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/CountryLisa/yard/DSCF0007.jpg[/img]
Thanks

[MaineDesigner]

Without knowing the directions or seeing the trees leafed out it is a little hard to tell but you want the maximum amount of sun possible, at least six hours of direct sun. Usually if you have a rectangular bed this means you want the long axis to run east-west but sometimes other factors alter that rule of thumb. Some plants also do really well in large pots (e.g. peppers).

[Betsylvania]

Some questions before one could advise..

What is the layout of your property with regards to sun?
This will be very useful before one plans any garden.
Do you own your home? If you do...
You should have a plat map of your property.. This is a document created by a surveyor when you purchased your home. It will show a drawing of your home, your land and adjacent roads and buildings. It will show a "scale" that is , how many feet are in each inch of drawing. It will also show directional North so you can estimate where the sun moves across your land.
If you don't own the property, ask the landlord if he can give you a copy of the plat map. If they will not, you can make one yourself.
Using your plat map, you can make photocopies and use this to make your own Base Map of your property. A base map is a useful landscape tool for anyone wishing to build or design or modify a property.

What you do is ,armed with your base map, a measuring tape, clip board and pencil and paper... Go out and measure and locate to scale key items on your property. For example..

Space from your home to fence lines,
location of all trees, concrete paths, power, sewer and gas lines underground.. anything permenent or semi permenant on your property
Note neighbor's trees, sheds etc as this will impact your sun, runoff and water
Any unusual land features like slopes, bogs, etc

After you have these items sketched, draw up a final base map with somewhat accurate measurements of these features.....( you don't need any artistic ability) Make sure it is finished in dark ink and make copies of this. SAVE this as your master copy. Use the photocopies to sketch away.
Remember, note where your sun moves and how shade patterns will be in summer.
TREES- sketch in the "drip line" of all of your trees... a drip line is the edge of your trees leafy growth. This will affect sun quality underneath AND gives you a rough idea of where this same tree's root growth will be most active.
This will help you determine where to place new trees, shrubs and plants as existing trees will compete with them for water, sun and space.

It is not a crime to remove trees ( unless you are renting, perhaps or have covenants).
My best advise is to plan now, start small, take it in bits and pieces.

Regarding a Veggie garden.....locate it in the area that gets full sun. Six hours steady sun per summer day.. minimum. You may enjoy raised beds that can be moved next year to adjust to your changing garden.

There are garden catalogs that sell easy to build "corner joints" for raised bed designs. You simply push the staked joints into the ground and they have a slot for you to insert your cedar wood boards and TA DA.. a raised bed.. ( of course, you may want to dig up the sod first)

Best of luck to you!
areas of

[opabinia51]

Well, you are in good hands... I'll just say that give yourself as much light as possible. And use the leaves from those trees around you each year as a soil ammendmant along with some manure or other green.