| name | garden-advisor |
| description | Comprehensive gardening guide with zone-based planting calendars, soil preparation, companion planting, organic pest management, container gardening, vegetable garden planning, lawn care, indoor plant care, and watering schedules.
Use when the user asks about garden advisor, or needs help with comprehensive gardening guide with zone-based planting calendars, soil preparation, companion planting, organic pest management, container gardening, vegetable garden planning, lawn care, indoor plant care, and watering schedules.
Do NOT use when the request requires professional specialized advice or falls outside the scope of garden advisor.
|
| license | Apache-2.0 |
| metadata | {"author":"foundry-skills","version":"1.0.0","tags":"home-maintenance gardening guide","category":"home-household","subcategory":"gardening","depends":"","disclaimer":"none","difficulty":"intermediate"} |
Garden Advisor
When to Use
Use this skill when:
- User asks about garden advisor
- User needs guidance on garden advisor topics
- User wants a structured approach to garden advisor
Do NOT use when:
- Request requires professional consultation beyond educational guidance
- User needs emergency assistance
Questions to Ask the User First
- What is your USDA Hardiness Zone? (Look up at planthardiness.ars.usda.gov by zip code)
- What type of gardening? (Vegetable, flower, herb, lawn, indoor plants, container, all)
- How much space? (Backyard, raised beds, containers/patio, balcony, windowsill)
- Sun exposure? (Full sun 6+ hours, partial sun 3-6 hours, shade under 3 hours)
- Soil type? (Clay, sandy, loamy, unknown, container mix)
- Experience level? (First-time, beginner, intermediate, experienced)
- Watering situation? (Hose access, irrigation system, hand watering only, rain-dependent)
- Budget? (Minimal, moderate, willing to invest)
- Time commitment? (Minutes per week, hours per week)
- Any specific goals? (Feed the family, beautiful yard, pollinators, relax, etc.)
- Organic preference? (Strictly organic, prefer organic, open to conventional)
- Any challenges? (Deer, pests, poor soil, drought, short season)
USDA Hardiness Zone Quick Reference
ZONE MAP (approximate, US):
Zone 3 (-40 to -30F): Northern MN, WI, ME, MT
Zone 4 (-30 to -20F): Upper Midwest, Northern New England, parts of CO
Zone 5 (-20 to -10F): IA, IL, IN, OH, PA, CT, parts of CO, UT
Zone 6 (-10 to 0F): MO, KY, VA, MD, NJ, parts of KS, OK
Zone 7 (0 to 10F): NC, TN, AR, north TX, NM, parts of OR, WA
Zone 8 (10 to 20F): SC, GA, AL, MS, central TX, parts of OR, WA
Zone 9 (20 to 30F): FL (north), south TX, AZ (south), coastal CA
Zone 10 (30 to 40F): FL (south), southern AZ, southern CA, HI
YOUR ZONE: ___
LAST FROST DATE (average): _______________
FIRST FROST DATE (average): _______________
GROWING SEASON LENGTH: ___ days
Vegetable Garden Planning
Garden Layout Planning
VEGETABLE GARDEN PLAN TEMPLATE:
Garden Type: [ ] In-ground [ ] Raised bed [ ] Container
Dimensions: ___ x ___ feet (or number of containers)
Sun exposure: ___ hours per day
Water source: _______________
WHAT TO GROW (based on what you eat):
Top 10 Beginner-Friendly Vegetables:
1. Tomatoes (high yield, versatile)
2. Lettuce/greens (fast, cut-and-come-again)
3. Zucchini (prolific, easy)
4. Green beans (bush type, easy)
5. Peppers (productive, long harvest)
6. Cucumbers (fast growing, high yield)
7. Herbs: basil, cilantro, parsley (always useful)
8. Radishes (ready in 30 days, great for kids)
9. Carrots (easy in loose soil)
10. Snap peas (spring crop, eat off the vine)
SPACE PLANNING (per plant):
Tomato: 2-3 sq ft per plant (staked/caged)
Pepper: 1.5 sq ft per plant
Zucchini: 4-6 sq ft per plant
Cucumber: 2 sq ft (trellised) or 6 sq ft (ground)
Lettuce: 0.5-1 sq ft per plant
Beans (bush): 0.5 sq ft per plant
Herbs: 1 sq ft per plant
Carrots: 16 per sq ft (square foot gardening)
Radishes: 16 per sq ft
Planting Calendar Template
PLANTING CALENDAR (customize to your zone):
Zone: ___ Last Frost: ___ First Frost: ___
COOL SEASON CROPS (plant 4-6 weeks before last frost):
Start indoors: ___/___
Transplant/direct sow outdoors: ___/___
Crops: Lettuce, spinach, peas, radishes, broccoli, kale, carrots
WARM SEASON CROPS (plant after last frost):
Start indoors (6-8 weeks before): ___/___
Transplant outdoors (after last frost): ___/___
Direct sow outdoors: ___/___
Crops: Tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, squash, beans, corn
FALL GARDEN (plant 8-10 weeks before first frost):
Start/direct sow: ___/___
Crops: Lettuce, spinach, radishes, broccoli, kale, beets, carrots
SUCCESSION PLANTING:
Plant lettuce/greens every 2-3 weeks for continuous harvest
Plant beans every 3-4 weeks for extended harvest
Plant radishes every 2 weeks
Companion Planting Guide
COMPANION PLANTING CHART:
TOMATOES:
Good companions: Basil (repels pests, may improve flavor), carrots,
marigolds (pest deterrent), parsley
Bad companions: Fennel, kohlrabi, potatoes (share blight)
Spacing: 2-3 ft apart, basil between plants
PEPPERS:
Good companions: Basil, carrots, onions, spinach, tomatoes
Bad companions: Fennel, kohlrabi
Spacing: 18 inches apart
CUCUMBERS:
Good companions: Beans, corn, peas, radishes, sunflowers
Bad companions: Potatoes, aromatic herbs (sage, mint)
Spacing: 12 inches on trellis, 36 inches on ground
BEANS:
Good companions: Corn, squash, cucumbers, carrots, beets
Bad companions: Onions, garlic, fennel
THE THREE SISTERS (Native American tradition):
Corn + Beans + Squash
Corn provides structure for beans to climb
Beans fix nitrogen for corn and squash
Squash shades soil, reducing weeds and moisture loss
MARIGOLDS:
Plant throughout the garden -- repels many pests
French marigolds are most effective for pest control
Soil Preparation
Soil Assessment
SOIL TEST GUIDE:
STEP 1: TEXTURE TEST (jar test)
1. Fill a quart jar 1/3 with garden soil
2. Fill with water, shake vigorously
3. Let settle for 24 hours
4. Bottom layer: Sand (settles in 1 minute)
5. Middle layer: Silt (settles in 4-6 hours)
6. Top layer: Clay (settles in 24 hours)
Ideal: Roughly equal parts = loamy soil
STEP 2: pH TEST
Home test kit: $10-15 at garden center
Professional test (recommended): Contact county extension office ($15-25)
Ideal range: 6.0-7.0 for most vegetables
Too acidic (< 6.0): Add garden lime
Too alkaline (> 7.5): Add sulfur or peat moss
STEP 3: DRAINAGE TEST
1. Dig a hole 12" deep x 12" wide
2. Fill with water, let drain completely
3. Fill again and time the drainage
Ideal: Drains 1-2 inches per hour
Too fast (sandy): Add compost for water retention
Too slow (clay): Add compost and consider raised beds
STEP 4: ORGANIC MATTER ASSESSMENT
Dark, crumbly, earthy-smelling soil = good organic content
Pale, hard, compacted soil = needs amendment
Solution for all soil types: ADD COMPOST (the universal amendment)
Soil Improvement
SOIL AMENDMENT PLAN:
FOR ALL SOIL TYPES:
- Add 2-4 inches of compost to top of beds annually
- Mulch 2-3 inches deep (retains moisture, builds soil)
- Avoid walking on garden beds (compaction)
- Rotate crops yearly (prevents nutrient depletion)
CLAY SOIL:
Add: Compost (lots), coarse sand, gypsum
Strategy: Raised beds work best over clay
Never: Work clay soil when wet (creates concrete-like clumps)
SANDY SOIL:
Add: Compost (lots), peat moss, coconut coir
Strategy: Increase organic matter to hold water and nutrients
Mulch: Extra important (moisture retention)
ROCKY/THIN SOIL:
Strategy: Raised beds with imported soil mix
Mix: 1/3 topsoil, 1/3 compost, 1/3 peat or coir
CONTAINER MIX (do not use garden soil in containers):
Recipe: 1 part peat or coir + 1 part perlite + 1 part compost
Or: Buy quality potting mix (not "potting soil" -- check for perlite)
Organic Pest Management
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Approach
IPM HIERARCHY (try in this order):
LEVEL 1: PREVENTION (best approach)
- Healthy soil = healthy plants = pest resistance
- Choose disease-resistant varieties
- Proper spacing for air circulation
- Rotate crops annually
- Remove plant debris at season end
- Attract beneficial insects with flowers
LEVEL 2: PHYSICAL CONTROLS
- Hand-pick large pests (hornworms, beetles)
- Row covers to prevent insect access
- Copper tape for slugs
- Traps (yellow sticky traps for aphids, beer traps for slugs)
- Water spray to knock off aphids
- Barriers (collars for cutworms)
LEVEL 3: BIOLOGICAL CONTROLS
- Attract or purchase beneficial insects:
Ladybugs (eat aphids)
Lacewings (eat many soft-bodied pests)
Praying mantis (general predators)
Parasitic wasps (caterpillar control)
- Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) for caterpillars
- Nematodes for soil-dwelling pests
LEVEL 4: ORGANIC SPRAYS (last resort)
- Neem oil (broad spectrum, use in evening to protect bees)
- Insecticidal soap (aphids, mites, whiteflies)
- Diatomaceous earth (crawling insects, apply when dry)
- Pyrethrin (last resort, also kills beneficials)
Always start with Level 1 and work up.
Common Garden Pest Identification
| Pest | Signs | Plants Affected | Organic Solution |
|---|
| Aphids | Sticky residue, curled leaves, clusters on stems | Nearly all | Water spray, ladybugs, insecticidal soap |
| Tomato hornworm | Large caterpillar, stripped leaves | Tomatoes, peppers | Hand-pick, Bt spray, attract parasitic wasps |
| Squash bug | Wilting leaves, brown eggs on leaf undersides | Squash, cucumbers | Hand-pick, trap boards, neem oil |
| Cabbage worm | Holes in leaves, green caterpillars | Brassicas | Row covers, Bt spray, hand-pick |
| Slugs/snails | Holes in leaves, slime trails | Lettuce, seedlings | Beer traps, copper barriers, hand-pick at night |
| Japanese beetles | Skeletonized leaves, metallic beetles | Many plants | Hand-pick, milky spore (lawn), neem oil |
| Deer | Browsed plants, hoof prints | Everything | Fencing (8+ ft), repellent spray, deer-resistant plants |
Container Gardening
Container Growing Guide
CONTAINER GARDENING ESSENTIALS:
CONTAINER SELECTION:
Size matters -- bigger is almost always better:
- Herbs: 6-8" pot minimum
- Lettuce/greens: 6-8" deep, any width
- Peppers: 5-gallon minimum (14" diameter)
- Tomatoes: 10-gallon minimum (18" diameter)
- Cucumbers: 5-gallon with trellis
- Zucchini: 10-gallon minimum
Material:
- Plastic: lightweight, retains moisture, inexpensive
- Terra cotta: attractive, breathes, dries faster, heavier
- Fabric grow bags: excellent drainage and aeration, portable
- Self-watering: best for consistent moisture, less daily attention
CRITICAL: All containers must have drainage holes!
SOIL:
Use quality potting MIX (not garden soil, not topsoil)
Add slow-release fertilizer at planting
Refresh or replace soil annually
WATERING:
Containers dry out much faster than in-ground gardens
Check daily (stick finger 1" into soil -- dry = water)
Water until it drains from bottom
Morning watering is ideal
Consider self-watering containers or drip irrigation
FEEDING:
Containers deplete nutrients quickly
Fertilize every 1-2 weeks with liquid fertilizer
Or use slow-release granular at planting (lasts 3-4 months)
Signs of nutrient deficiency: yellowing leaves, poor growth
BEST CONTAINER VEGETABLES:
- Cherry/patio tomatoes (determinate varieties)
- Peppers (all types)
- Lettuce and greens (any container)
- Herbs (all types)
- Radishes (shallow container is fine)
- Bush beans
- Strawberries
- Dwarf cucumbers and squash
Herb Garden Guide
ESSENTIAL HERB GARDEN:
CULINARY HERBS (start with these):
Basil: Full sun, warm soil, pinch flowers for more leaves
Cilantro: Cool weather, bolts in heat, succession plant
Parsley: Part shade OK, biennial (lives 2 years)
Rosemary: Full sun, well-drained, perennial in zones 7+
Thyme: Full sun, well-drained, perennial, drought tolerant
Mint: ANY condition (invasive -- keep in pot!)
Chives: Full to part sun, perennial, easy
Oregano: Full sun, perennial, spreads easily
Sage: Full sun, perennial, drought tolerant
Dill: Full sun, direct sow, attracts beneficial insects
GROWING TIPS:
- Most herbs prefer well-drained soil (don't overwater)
- Harvest regularly (promotes bushy growth)
- Pinch flowers to keep leaf production going
- Most herbs are happier slightly hungry than overfed
- Windowsill herbs need 6+ hours of light (or grow light)
PRESERVATION:
- Freezing: best for basil, cilantro, chives (chop, freeze in ice cube trays with oil)
- Drying: best for rosemary, thyme, oregano, sage (hang bundles, air dry)
- Herb butter: mix chopped herbs with softened butter, freeze
- Herb salt: layer herbs and coarse salt, dry, grind
Indoor Plant Care
Houseplant Quick Reference
BEGINNER-FRIENDLY HOUSEPLANTS:
VERY LOW MAINTENANCE:
Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)
Light: Low to bright indirect
Water: When top 1-2" dry (every 1-2 weeks)
Skill: Nearly indestructible
Snake Plant (Sansevieria)
Light: Low to bright indirect
Water: When completely dry (every 2-4 weeks)
Skill: Thrives on neglect
ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)
Light: Low to bright indirect
Water: When completely dry (every 2-3 weeks)
Skill: Extremely forgiving
LOW MAINTENANCE:
Spider Plant (Chlorophytum)
Light: Bright indirect
Water: When top inch dry
Bonus: Produces baby plants
Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)
Light: Low to medium
Water: When leaves start to droop (it tells you!)
Bonus: Air purifying, flowers
Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica)
Light: Bright indirect
Water: When top 1-2" dry
MODERATE CARE:
Monstera deliciosa
Light: Bright indirect (no direct sun)
Water: When top 2" dry
Fiddle Leaf Fig (Ficus lyrata)
Light: Bright indirect to some direct
Water: When top 2" dry, consistent schedule
INDOOR PLANT TROUBLESHOOTING:
Yellow leaves: Usually overwatering
Brown crispy edges: Underwatering or low humidity
Leggy/stretching: Not enough light
Dropping leaves: Stress (moved, temperature change, draft)
Pests (tiny insects): Isolate, wipe with alcohol, neem oil spray
Watering Schedules
INDOOR PLANT WATERING GUIDE:
THE GOLDEN RULE: Check the soil, don't follow a calendar.
CHECKING METHOD:
1. Stick finger 1-2 inches into soil
2. If dry = water | If moist = wait
3. When watering, water thoroughly until it drains from bottom
4. Empty saucer after 30 minutes (no sitting in water)
GENERAL FREQUENCY (varies by conditions):
Succulents/cacti: Every 2-4 weeks
Snake plant, ZZ, pothos: Every 1-2 weeks
Tropical plants: Every 1 week
Ferns: Every 3-5 days (keep evenly moist)
Peace lily: When leaves droop slightly
FACTORS THAT INCREASE WATERING NEEDS:
+ More light
+ Higher temperature
+ Lower humidity
+ Smaller pot
+ Terracotta pot (breathes)
+ Active growing season (spring/summer)
FACTORS THAT DECREASE WATERING NEEDS:
+ Less light
+ Cooler temperature
+ Higher humidity
+ Larger pot
+ Plastic or glazed pot
+ Dormant season (fall/winter)
Lawn Care Schedule
LAWN CARE ANNUAL PLAN:
SPRING:
[ ] Rake out dead grass and thatch (when ground is firm)
[ ] Soil test (every 2-3 years, spring is ideal)
[ ] Apply pre-emergent herbicide (before soil temp reaches 55F)
Organic: corn gluten meal
[ ] First mow when grass is actively growing (highest setting)
[ ] Begin regular watering if rain is insufficient
[ ] Fertilize (light application, organic or slow-release)
SUMMER:
[ ] Mow high (3-4 inches for cool-season grass, 2-3 for warm-season)
Never remove more than 1/3 of grass height at once
[ ] Water deeply but infrequently (1" per week including rain)
Water early morning (6-10 AM) to reduce disease
[ ] Leave clippings on lawn (free fertilizer)
[ ] Spot-treat weeds as needed
[ ] Reduce mowing frequency during heat/drought
FALL (most important season for cool-season lawns):
[ ] Aerate (core aeration, especially if compacted)
[ ] Overseed thin areas (after aeration)
[ ] Fertilize (heaviest application of the year for cool-season)
[ ] Continue mowing until growth stops
[ ] Final mow slightly shorter than summer height
[ ] Rake or mulch fallen leaves (don't let them smother grass)
WINTER:
[ ] Service mower (sharpen blade, change oil, spark plug)
[ ] Stay off frozen grass when possible
[ ] Plan spring projects
[ ] Order seed or sod if needed
Output Format
When providing gardening advice:
GARDEN PLAN
Zone: [zone], Location: [region]
Garden Type: [vegetable/flower/herb/container/lawn/indoor]
Season: [current]
Experience Level: [level]
WHAT TO DO NOW:
1. [Task] - [brief why] - [how to do it]
2. [Task] - [brief why] - [how to do it]
3. [Task] - [brief why] - [how to do it]
WHAT TO PLANT NOW:
[Plant list with spacing and care notes]
COMING UP NEXT (next 4-6 weeks):
[Preview of upcoming tasks and plantings]
TROUBLESHOOTING:
[Address any specific problems mentioned]
SHOPPING LIST:
[Seeds/plants, soil amendments, tools needed]
Estimated cost: $___
RESOURCES:
Local extension office: [state].edu/extension
Planting calendar for your zone: ___
Example
Input: "Help me get started with garden advisor"
Output: A structured garden advisor plan tailored to the user's specific situation, following the process outlined above.
Edge Cases
- Incomplete information: Ask clarifying questions before proceeding. Do not assume details the user has not provided.
- Out of scope requests: Redirect to appropriate professional resources when the request exceeds educational guidance.
- Conflicting requirements: Present trade-offs clearly and let the user decide priorities.
