Map the garden. With this year's garden layout and production fresh in your mind, jot down a map and some notes about your garden. For the vegetable garden, include where you placed each major crop. For example, using a piece of graph paper and general measurements, note where the onions, corn, potatoes and tomatoes grew. Planting the same crops on the same ground year after year allows some soil-borne pests to proliferate in the garden.
Crop rotation helps minimize the damage of some pests on edible crops.
A map will guide your crop rotations when you lay out subsequent gardens. Take note of any problems you encountered with your plants. If you suffered a loss of plants due to insects, disease, drought, or to a poor variety, make a note of it. Likewise write down your successes and a few reminders of what you would like to change next year. Clear away old plant debris.