Spring is just around the corner, which means it’s time to get out your gardening gloves. Spring is one of the most satisfying times of the year for gardeners, as it gives you a chance to see plants and animals re-emerge and breathe new life into your yard.
While preparing your garden for spring can be hard work, it’ll help set you up for a successful gardening season in the months to come. What do you need to do to get your garden ready for spring?
Check out this guide to discover how to prepare a spring garden.
1. Clean Up Your Garden
Getting your garden ready for spring all starts with a big cleanup. While cleaning your winter garden can take a lot of work, it’ll set you up for less work come springtime.
One of the first things you need to do is clear out the winter mulch that you added to sensitive plants in the fall. You should also remove window screens, burlap sacks, rose cones, and any other forms of winter protection you added to your garden.
While you don’t need to rake the leaves off your flower beds, you should brush back any thick layers of leaves. Leaves help keep weeds at bay, and they feed soil when they break down. However, you don’t want there to be too many leaves covering your flower beds.
You should also take the time to remove dead growth from your perennials so it won’t slow down new growth. However, take care when pruning dead growth off the base of your plants, as you don’t want to disturb any new growth.
Also, don’t try too hard to pull leaves and stems from the ground, as you could accidentally end up pulling out new roots. To clean up your vegetable garden, remove any surrounding plant debris.
If there’s any grass creeping into your garden beds, edge it out with a garden knife. You can also check out these services if you need some help edging your garden before spring. You should also take the time to pull weeds and pull out any dead annuals.
2. Prepare Your Soil
Preparing your soil is another very important step for getting your garden ready for spring. If your soil isn’t too wet, start to aerate it by digging it out and turning it over.
We also suggest that you add plenty of organic matter to it as you go. Not only does turning the soil make it easier to plant in the spring, but it also creates a better environment for your spring plants to grow. When turning the soil, make sure to keep your eyes out for perennial weeds, and remove them as you go.
Once you’re happy with the way the soil looks, lightly mulch your garden to seal in moisture for the new plants. We suggest using biodegradable mulch such as bark chips or compost.
If your soil feels dry when you turn it, make sure to give it a good watering. Do this before you apply any mulch. Also, don’t forget to turn the soil in the hanging baskets and planters.
All you need is a hand trowel, a watering can, and a container compost to clear out the weeds and debris and turn the soil.
3. Divide Your Perennials
Dividing your perennials helps them stay healthy. It’s best to divide your perennials early in the year when the ground is still dry enough to work with and before any of the flowers have started to bloom.
Start by dividing the perennials that have formed large clumps or that have flowered less than usual. Take a spade and dig around the perimeter of the plant. Next, slide a garden fork underneath the perennial’s roots and lift it out of the ground.
While some plants are easy to pull apart and replant, others need cleaving. You can cleave the difficult plants with an ax or a sharp knife. Plant the perennial divisions as soon as you can, and make sure to give them plenty of water.
4. Sow Seeds That Need a Longer Growing Season
Winter is a great time to sow any seeds that need a longer growing season. You can start sowing these seeds as early as January or February.
Some seeds that typically need a longer time to grow include geraniums, peppers, eggplants, begonias, and antirrhinums. If you want, you can sow your seeds indoors with the help of some small containers.
You can use peat pots, flats, or seed trays. Or, you can add drainage holes to old egg cartons. Make sure to follow the instructions on the seed packet to sow the seeds the correct way. Cover up the containers with plastic cling wrap to keep the moisture locked in. Also, poke a few small holes with a toothpick in the cling wrap to allow air to circulate and to prevent mold growth.
5. Remove Hibernating Garden Pests
Some pests take advantage of the inactive winter months to hole up in your garden. You want to take care of any pest issues before you plant your spring flowers, lest you want everything to get eaten.
It’s a good idea to hire an exterminator to check your garden for pests before you start planting.
Time to Prepare Your Spring Garden
With the above tips, your garden will be ready to go come springtime. Now, all you need to do is decide everything you’re going to plant in your spring garden.
Be sure to check back in with our blog for more gardening tips and tricks!
