One of the things I look forward to most every spring is finding it. Back in the garden And a yard. Living in a warm climate I can do a lot of outdoor activities, but there are certain activities that must be done in the spring. Here’s what’s on my garden to-do list this spring to get everything ready for spring and summer.
My approach to gardening may look different than someone in a colder climate. No matter where you live, there are certain gardening tasks you can do before planting in warmer weather. The yard may require clearing, garden plant replacement, and soil preparation.
Spring garden planning
I’ve had a garden for years and our family has grown a wide variety of vegetables. I am also an avid beekeeper and we recently adopted ducks and chickens. Then there are plants and flowers scattered in the yard.
What I grew up with has definitely changed over the years, but you always find that I grow something.
What is the first step to gardening? Make a plan.
You can find yours. USDA plant hardiness zone over here. It tells you the last and first snow days. If you live in a really warm climate (like I do) you probably have several growing seasons throughout the year. A person who lives in a true four-season environment typically has spring through fall for gardening. In fact, the cold weather only lasts for a few months in summer.
Regardless of the climate where you live, check your last snow date and then backtrack.
Garden planner
A garden journal or planner is really helpful. This can be an app on your phone, a computer program, or old-fashioned pencil and paper. Go through last year’s garden plans and notes. What worked, what didn’t? What would you like to change or add? Decide what to plant and where in the garden.
Big planning can be fun, but remember what works in your area and what you can actually do. It doesn’t make sense to grow 20 tomato plants if you only have 3 garden beds! Research how much space each plant needs to have enough room to grow. This is my favorite Garden planning application.
This is a good way to plan crop rotation to prevent soil depletion. I will do it too Companion planting Once you know which plants to grow in the garden, mark when to start the seeds and transplant them outside to promote plant and soil health.
Seed initiation
Once you know what (and when) you want to plant, it’s time to start the seeds. Some plants require completely warm weather to survive and need to be planted in late spring or early summer depending on your location. Other plants like peas, lettuce, spinach and root vegetables tolerate cold weather well.
Some plants such as lettuce and carrots can be sown directly in the soil. Others do better if started indoors and then transplanted. You can find my list A guide to genealogy over here.
Soil testing
This step is not always necessary, but it can be very useful. A soil test will let you know what nutrients are low or lacking so improvements can be made. Local university extension offices are a good resource for this.
Soil testing looks at the ratio of sand, silt, silt and basic soil makeup. It also shows the pH and level of nutrients present. Some plants grow best in certain soil pH levels, so having a rich garden and little or no growth difference is possible.
Crop rotation, companion planting and Redevelopment practices (not making large areas like mono-crops) help with this.
Add compost
Once you know what’s going on underground, spring is a good time to add in compost. Since I am growing my vegetables, herbs and flowers I like to add more nutrients through compost. However, you can help improve the overall quality of the soil by fertilizing it in the spring.
Spread a 2-4 inch thick layer of compost over the area in early spring. If the soil is rich in clay and hard, then break it first. Next, work the compost into the soil. If it’s a small space, you can do this with a shovel, a garden tool, or even your hands. Learn How to start composting Here’s how it works Compost tea here.
Snip, snip, snip
If you didn’t prune your shrubs, trees, and herbs in the fall, now is the time. I like to cut bushes, trees and anything else I need. This removes dead debris so the plant can focus on new growth.
Here are things that can be cut in the spring:
- Dead or damaged branches
- Growing bushes (top only, before new growth begins)
- Excessive bushes and shrubs
Cut off dead growth from last year on perennials. Clean up old leaves, twigs and dead plants and dispose of them. Avoid cutting or pruning spring flowers such as forsythia or lavender.
Organize and clean the garden shed and potting bench. Restock the supplies you need. Where are your watering can, garden hose and gardening tools? Are they what you need after you start gardening? Clean, paint and oil any tools as needed. Remove and replace as needed.
This is another place where you will be tempted to go out and buy everything. Ask yourself what exactly you will use and what kind of garden you have. If you only have a few raised beds on your back porch, you don’t need a large patch of soil.
If you have a rain barrel (or need one!), then this can be prepared in late spring. Clean the water tanks and make sure that the drain and the necessary connections are working properly.
Weed and mulch
What most people call weeds are actually plants. Useful and medicinal plantsLike dandelion and plantain. However, I also don’t want a bed full of dandelions taking up space where I’ve planted other vegetables. Spring is the perfect time to get a head start on weeds. Be sure to save a lot in the yard For the hunters!
I like to clean the garden beds when the soil is moist and the roots are easy to pull out. They are much easier to remove in their early stages of development than later ones. They are less likely to go to seed and produce more weeds.
You can cover the beds with thick mulch to prevent future weed growth. However, it may be easier to plant small transplants first, then prune around them.
Keep cleaning
It is better to wait until the warm weather to clean the leaves and do the yard cleaning. Pollinators and beneficial insects depend on their protection during winter and spring. According to the Ceres Invertebrate Conservation Society:
Meanwhile, last year’s leaf litter is waiting to protect both plants and invertebrates from the season’s frost. And the butterflies’ chrysalides are still attached to dry stems and twigs, waiting for the right time to emerge as adults. – Society of Xerces
The right time to start cleaning the garden and garden beds depends on your location. Ideally late spring or early summer.
Maintenance of gardens
It’s not just lawns and garden beds that need some loving care. Check your garden paths and areas around the beds for any maintenance needs.
Are there any cracked/broken pavements that need replacing? Need to remove any weeds from the sidewalks? Are there areas that need to be filled with gravel or mulch?
If you raise garden beds, pots, or other plantings, check for any repairs that need to be done for these. If you want to extend the growing season, you can add cold frames or row covers to protect the plants.
Perennials and cuttings
Spring is the perfect time to divide plants and replant as needed. When a flower grows in one place for a long time, its growth can stop or even stop. Dividing into several plants in early spring can not only strengthen the plants, but also increase the number of flowers.
Bare cuttings like elderberries are best started now. Here is the guide To collect adloberry fruits for summer planting. If you are planting any trees, fruit trees, shrubs, or bushes, spring is a good time to do it after the ground is unfrozen.
Help garden friends
A garden wouldn’t be the same without friendly bugs and pollinators. While many agriculturalists are at war with the natural world, bugs, birds and bees are essential to a healthy ecosystem.
I’ve mentioned before that I have hives in the yard, but there are many ways to support pollinators and other garden helpers. Try to keep it simple Bee Hotel. Store any birdhouses or bird feeders. Dust them off and take them out of the garage and see what needs to be replaced or repaired.
Hang and refill bird feeders, and clean and refill birdbaths. Check your bat house if you have one, but if not, here it is. Why I recommend them! You can even plan and plant Butterfly garden.
Preparing the garden for spring
I know I mentioned a lot in this fall garden list, but don’t feel the need to tackle everything at once (or at all). As the seasons of my life changed, so did my garden and what I did. Sometimes I have a large garden, other times I pull back and focus on plants and flowers.
Do what feels good (and doable) for you this season. I hope these gardening tips help you feel more prepared for your gardening. Whatever it looks like to you!
How do you prepare your garden for spring? Is there anything you would like to add or have I missed? Comment and share below!
