Garden Voila is a free resource for home gardeners. We build calculators, planners and practical guides that answer the questions gardeners actually ask: how much soil to buy, how far apart to plant, when to start seeds, how much to water, and what is eating the lettuce.
Every tool on the site is free to use, with no account and no sign-up. Plans you make in our planners stay in your own browser.
What you will find here
- Calculators for soil, mulch, compost, spacing, seeds, watering, irrigation, rainwater and costs. Browse them all in the tools directory.
- Planners for raised beds, whole vegetable gardens and containers, plus a layout generator. Start at the garden planner.
- Calendars that turn your own frost dates into planting schedules and monthly tasks. See the gardening calendar.
- Problem solvers for yellow leaves, pests, watering mistakes and other plant problems, starting from the plant problem identifier.
- A plant database of common vegetables, herbs and fruit with spacing, depth and timing. See the plant database.
- Articles on seasonal jobs, soil, planting, watering and plant problems in the blog.
How we build our tools
Our calculators use standard, transparent formulas, and every calculator page explains the formula it uses, with worked examples you can check by hand. Where a tool relies on typical values, such as plant spacing, days to maturity or the 0.62 gallons of water that one inch of rain puts on a square foot, we use figures that are widely published in seed catalogs and university Cooperative Extension guidance, and we say on the page that they are typical values.
Before a tool goes live, we test it against worked examples and edge cases, such as very small and very large inputs, to make sure the results make sense.
Our editorial standards
- Accuracy first. We aim to give practical advice that is consistent with established horticultural guidance. Where evidence is weak or advice is folklore, as with many companion planting claims, we say so.
- Clear limits. Calculators give estimates. Gardens vary with soil, climate, weather and variety, so we encourage you to check seed packets, local frost dates and your local Cooperative Extension service.
- Corrections. If you spot an error, please tell us through our contact page. We review every report and correct mistakes promptly.
- Honest recommendations. We recommend products we believe are genuinely useful to home gardeners. Sponsored content and affiliate links are always clearly labeled, and no brand can pay to change our advice or the results of our tools.
How we work with brands
Garden Voila is free to use, and some of our work is supported by brands and retailers. We may:
- Recommend products we think are useful, such as tools, seeds, soil, raised beds and irrigation kits.
- Use affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if you buy through a link, at no extra cost to you.
- Publish sponsored posts created in partnership with a brand.
Our rules are simple. Sponsored posts are labeled as sponsored at the top of the article. Affiliate links are disclosed. Our calculators and planners are never influenced by advertisers: the formulas and results are the same for everyone. Read our full affiliate and advertising disclosure.
Brands interested in working with us can get in touch through our contact page.
Who we write for
Our guides are written for home gardeners in the United States, from first-time growers with a single raised bed to experienced gardeners planning a full vegetable plot. Units are in US customary measurements: feet, inches, gallons and cubic yards.
Get in touch
Questions, suggestions for new tools, and corrections are always welcome. Visit our contact page to send us a message.