While some of the country may still be getting hit with snow storms and that dreaded “nor'easter” – for most of us, spring is right around the corner, which means that lots of us have begun to think about all the fun we can have outside, especially when it comes to spring gardening. From daffodils to tulips, spring can bring out the best in our lawns, providing welcome pops of color and signs of new life after the dreary days of winter.
Now is the time to start your spring
gardening! Even if there’s still a bit of frost on the ground in your neck of
the woods, it’s never too early to get outside and get to planning … so you can
get to planting! Read on for five things you can do right now to start spring
gardening. And then jump to the end for a handy checklist to get you started.
1. Start with a clean slate.
The first step to any great spring gardening
plan is to survey what you’re working with and get your landscape ready to shine. Get out of
the house (bundle up if you have to) and take note of how your garden has
changed since last year. Maybe there are trees and shrubs that need to be
pruned or removed. Maybe your fence or flower beds are in need of repairs. Maybe
your lawn needs a good mowing, or last year’s dead plants need to be moved into
compost. Whatever it takes, you must get your garden ready to grow before you start … otherwise all your
spring gardening plans will be in vain!
2. Hit refresh on your soil.
Now that your overgrown garden has been
cleaned up, there’s one more thing you need to do before you get to planting …
and it’s a big one! Preparing your soil for spring gardening is vital if you
want your plants and flowers to survive more than a couple weeks. Consider testing your soil – it may seem like a lot of
work but it’s definitely worth the effort! Even if you don’t live in a climate
where it snows or freezes, there’s a good chance that your soil is pretty dried
out and packed down after the winter, which means you’ll want to add moisture
and other nutrients (again, that’s where soil testing comes in) found in
fertilizers and other organic materials. Now is also a good time to add mulch to the mix – it prevents weeds,
keeps your garden moist and even helps to maintain its temperature. Remember,
if your soil thrives, your garden will too!
3. Pick your plants.
You may already know that there are different
types of plants and flowers that thrive in different seasons, but did you know
that you can even break that down to months? And with April just beginning,
it’s the perfect month to pick your
plants and start your spring gardening! Of course, you can head over to your
local nursery or home improvement store and have them pick out planting bulbs
for you, but if you want to get creative and build something unique, just a few minutes of research can help you
find the best flowers and plants to make the perfect garden. A few of our
favorite springtime gardens include dahlias, tulips, lilies and daffodils.
4. Consider fruits and veggies.
While you may be the most focused on creating
a beautiful oasis in your spring gardening, you might also consider planting
some delicious fruits and veggies! In fact, month-by-month planting makes even
more sense for food. Beets, carrots, cucumbers, melons, peas, peppers, squash
and tomatoes are all perfect for April. Think about how colorful and delicious your spring gardening will
be! Once you’ve decided which plants, flowers, fruits and/or veggies will kick
off your spring gardening, all you have to do is buy the seeds or bulbs and get
to planting!
5. Start with spring. And plan
what’s next.
While spring is the perfect time to start your
garden, don’t stop there! You can continue this perfect pastime throughout the
spring, summer and even into the fall. We love this monthly planting guide that will help you plan
the perfect garden all year long, so whether you’re starting with spring
gardening or waiting until the summer, you’ll know what to plant and how to do
it!
Your Checklist for Spring
Gardening
▢
Remove debris of winter like
leaves, fallen branches, etc.
▢
Prune overgrown plants or trees
▢
Remove dead plants or flowers
▢
Check your gardening tools and
order new ones if needed
▢
Repair any infrastructure like
fences or flower beds
▢
Test your soil
▢
Add fertilizer and/or mulch to
your flower beds and garden
▢
Pick the plants and flowers for
your new garden
▢
Plan what you’ll plant next and
into the summer and fall!
Are you ready to get started on your spring
gardening? Let us know what you decide to plant in the comments section below!
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Photo
by Neslihan Gunaydin on Unsplash
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