With all the regular maintenance your garden needs, how do you plan for the special or one-time projects that you've been meaning to get around to but never seem to make time for? The best approach is to borrow a tactic regularly used in the construction industry: the punch list.
In its simplest form, a punch list is similar to a to-do list. It lists any and all chores or projects to be completed. But unlike a to-do list, a punch list goes into more detail. For construction purposes, it might give the room or location, the task, the person responsible, required inspections, and date to be completed. A punch list is more helpful than a to-do list because it gives a place to list important details and it is all about accountability.
Using a punch list for your garden will help you to think through upcoming projects, big and small, and get your ducks in a row so you can complete the project in a timely manner. For example, if you want to install a drip-irrigation system in your back yard, putting "Install drip-irrigation system" on a to-do list isn't much help. On the other hand, on a punch list you can list where the system will go (back yard--you can even state the number of square feet), the supplies and tools needed, whether you'll need to hire help for the installation and who you'll hire, the estimated cost, the actual cost, the target date for completion, and the date the system is actually installed and working. And suddenly a big project becomes a little clearer and more manageable.
To help you get started using a punch list, I've created the following simple Excel spreadsheet template that you can take and customize to your heart's desire:
Garden Punch List Template
