13 Powerful Prompts for a Thriving Garden [UPDATED]

Gardening should be fun, but getting the right advice can sometimes feel frustrating. You have a specific question about your yard, but most online answers are generic. What works in a sunny California garden might not work for your shady plot in Ohio.

This guide is here to change that. We’ve put together a collection of fill-in-the-blank prompts that turn ChatGPT into your personal garden consultant. By giving it a few key details about your space and your goals, you get advice that’s actually useful. Think of these as recipes for getting great answers.

I. Garden Planning & Design

Before you even touch the soil, a good plan sets you up for success. Use these prompts to design your dream garden.

1. Create a Personalized Garden Concept:
   Act as a landscape designer. I want to start a new garden in my [e.g., backyard, front yard, balcony]. My space is approximately [dimensions, e.g., 20x30 feet] and is located in [city, state/country, and climate zone if you know it]. The area receives [e.g., 8 hours of full sun, 4 hours of morning sun, mostly shade]. I am a [e.g., complete beginner, intermediate, experienced] gardener and my primary goal is to [e.g., grow vegetables for my family, create a low-maintenance flower garden, attract pollinators, create a sensory garden for kids]. Please suggest 3 distinct garden themes or styles (like ‘Cottage Garden’, ‘Modern Minimalist’, or ‘Native Wildlife Haven’) that would suit my space and goals, including a list of key plants for each.
2. Design a Garden Layout:
   Based on the [chosen theme from prompt above] theme, create a simple layout plan for my [dimensions] garden space. The main features to include are [e.g., three 4x8-foot raised beds, a small seating area, a compost bin location, a winding path]. Please describe where to position these elements for optimal sun exposure, workflow, and visual appeal. You can describe this in text or create a simple text-based diagram.
3. Get a Tailored Plant Recommendation List:
   I live in [your location or USDA hardiness zone]. My soil is [e.g., heavy clay, sandy, loamy, unknown]. I’m looking for plants that are [e.g., deer-resistant, drought-tolerant, native, edible, pet-safe, low-maintenance]. Please generate a table of 10 recommended plants (a mix of [e.g., perennials, annuals, shrubs]) that fit these criteria. The table should include columns for: Plant Name, Sun Needs, Water Needs, Mature Size, and a ‘Why it’s a good fit’ comment.

II. Soil, Planting Schedules, and Preparation

With a plan in place, it’s time to prepare your foundation and timeline.

1. Create a Custom Planting Calendar:
   Act as an expert horticulturalist for [your location/zip code]. Create a month-by-month planting calendar for a vegetable garden. I want to grow [list of 5-10 vegetables/herbs, e.g., tomatoes, cucumbers, basil, lettuce, carrots]. The calendar should specify for each plant:
   • When to start seeds indoors.
   • When to sow seeds directly outdoors.
   • When to transplant seedlings outside.
   • Estimated time to harvest.
2. Improve Your Garden Soil:
   I am preparing a new garden bed in [your location]. My existing soil seems to be [describe soil, e.g., heavy clay that cracks when dry, very sandy and drains instantly, dark and crumbly]. My goal is to create rich, healthy soil for growing [e.g., vegetables, roses, native wildflowers]. Please provide a step-by-step action plan to amend and improve my soil over the next 4 weeks. Include recommendations for organic materials to add, like compost, manure, or other soil conditioners.
3. Develop a Companion Planting Chart:
   I plan to grow [list your main plants, e.g., tomatoes, bell peppers, zucchini, and marigolds]. Please create a companion planting chart for these specific plants. The chart should show which plants benefit each other when planted nearby (and why), and which plants should be kept apart (and why). Format this as a simple table with ‘Plant’, ‘Good Neighbors’, and ‘Bad Neighbors’ columns.

III. Plant Care and Maintenance

Your garden is growing. Now, keep it healthy and thriving.

1. Generate a Specific Plant Care Sheet:
   Create a detailed care guide for my [plant name, e.g., 'Big Boy' Tomato plant] which is growing in [a container on my patio / a raised bed] in [your location]. The guide should cover:
   • Watering: How often and how much?
   • Fertilizing: What kind of fertilizer (NPK ratio if possible), how often to apply it, and when to stop.
   • Pruning: Specific instructions on what, when, and how to prune for best health and yield.
   • Support: Does it need a stake, cage, or trellis?
2. Create a Custom Watering Schedule:
   Help me create a smart watering schedule. My garden is in [your location], where the summer is typically [e.g., hot and dry, humid and rainy]. I am growing [e.g., tomatoes and zucchini in raised beds, and hydrangeas in the ground]. Based on these plants and conditions, advise me on the best time of day to water, the best method (e.g., soaker hose, hand watering), and how to check if my plants need water instead of just watering on a rigid schedule.
3. Learn a Specific Pruning Technique:
   Act as a master gardener. Provide a simple, step-by-step guide on how to prune my [plant name, e.g., climbing rose, raspberry bush, basil plant]. Explain the goal of pruning this specific plant (e.g., promoting more flowers, encouraging bushy growth, removing old canes). Include the best time of year to do this and what tools I will need. Describe exactly where to make the cuts.

IV. Troubleshooting: Pests, Diseases, and Problems

Inevitably, challenges will arise. Use these prompts to diagnose and solve them.

1. Identify a Pest or Disease:
   I need help identifying a problem with my [plant name]. I am located in [your location]. I’ve noticed [describe the symptoms on the leaves, stems, or fruit, e.g., yellow spots with black centers on the leaves, a white powdery substance on the leaves, tiny green bugs clustered on new growth]. The overall plant health seems [e.g., wilted, stunted, generally okay]. Please suggest 3 possible causes (pest or disease) and provide a picture description for each so I can compare. For the most likely cause, recommend two treatment options: one organic and one chemical.
2. Solve an Environmental Problem:
   My [plant name] is not doing well. The leaves are [describe the problem, e.g., turning yellow and dropping, getting crispy brown edges, wilting during the day even with moist soil]. It’s planted in [e.g., a terracotta pot / the ground] and gets [amount and time of sun exposure]. I’ve been watering it [frequency]. Based on this, what are the most likely environmental stressors (e.g., overwatering, underwatering, sun scorch, nutrient deficiency), and what is the single most important action I should take right now to fix it?

V. Harvest, Preservation, and End-of-Season

Enjoy the rewards of your hard work and prepare for the next season.

1. Know When and How to Harvest:
   Provide a clear guide on how to harvest my [vegetable or fruit name, e.g., zucchini, indeterminate tomatoes, strawberries]. Include 3-4 visual or tactile signs that indicate they are perfectly ripe. Also, describe the proper technique for harvesting to avoid damaging the plant so it can continue producing.
2. Plan for Food Preservation:
   I am expecting a large harvest of [e.g., tomatoes, cucumbers, and basil] this year. Please suggest three different preservation methods for this combination of produce. For each method (e.g., canning, freezing, drying, pickling), provide a brief overview of the process and what equipment I would need for a small batch.
3. Create an End-of-Season Checklist:
   Act as a seasoned gardener in climate zone [your zone]. The first frost is expected in about [number] weeks. Create a prioritized checklist of tasks I need to do to put my [vegetable garden / perennial flower bed] to bed for the winter. Include tasks like final harvesting, cleaning up plant debris, amending the soil for spring, and protecting any sensitive perennial plants.

Also, Check These Prompts:

• Gardening is a wonderful way to enhance your daily routine. For more tips on using AI at home, check out our Prompts for Everyday Life.
• Just as you can use AI to plan your garden, you can also use it for your well-being. Explore our Prompts for Fitness to create custom health plans.
• Want to visualize your dream garden before you plant? Create stunning images with our Prompts for Midjourney.