what do i do with my garden in the spring

To-Do List for the Spring Garden

1. Prep your beds. This is typically the one garden chore gardeners don’t look forward to doing, but it’s an important one. ...
2. Repair beds, trellises or fencing. ...
3. Plan your garden and dream big! ...
4. Check on your compost pile. ...
5. Start growing your herbs. ...
6. Get those seeds started! ...
7. Top dress your beds . ...
8. Spring is the perfect time to get some potatoes started. ...

Full Answer

How do I get my Garden ready for the spring?

The effort you put in now as you put your garden to bed for the winter will benefit you in the spring by making it easier to get your garden going again. Enrich garden beds with compost or manure. Just spread an even layer on any exposed soil.

What to do in the garden in the fall?

Fall gardening takes advantage of cooler temperatures and fewer insects and putting the garden to bed is nowhere near as hectic as waking it up in the spring. You'll have time to really see how your plants are doing. Here are some tasks to do now in order to make next year's garden even better.

How do I prepare my garden for winter?

1. Clean up flower beds Clear away dead leaves or any other debris from winter storms from the soil surface where you are planning to plant annual flowers and veggies.

How do I prepare my garden beds for the fall?

In the case of prepping new beds in the fall or existing but empty beds, the process is simple. Amend the bed with 2 to 3 inches (5- 7.6 cm.) of compost mixed well and deeply with soil.

How do I prepare my garden in March?

The time for planning the garden is over, and the time for working in the garden has arrived.Apply compost to the soil.Plant summer bulbs.Plant peas. ( Late March)Deadhead early bloomers.Practice slug control.Hang maggot traps to protect your apple trees2.Prune rose bushes and fertilize them.

What should I add to my garden soil in the spring?

Adding Organic Matter: In the spring, if all you do remember is to add organic matter such as compost, that will get you off to a good start! Add on a day when the soil is moist but not wet. Spread a minimum of 2 to 3 inches of compost or aged manure onto your soil (and no more than four inches).

What do you do with your garden after winter?

0:054:356 Tips for Revitalizing Your Garden after Winter | Advice for HomeownersYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd routine pruning helps reshape the plant and stimulates new growth for the upcoming.MoreAnd routine pruning helps reshape the plant and stimulates new growth for the upcoming.

Should I till my garden every spring?

So in general, you want to maintain a balance and don't want to till the soil too often. If the soil structure looks good, there isn't any compacted soil, and there aren't any weeds/competing plants, you should be fine without tilling or with minimal aeration.

How do I prepare my garden for spring?

Spring Garden Preparation ChecklistGet your shed in order. Go over your tools. ... Clear out weeds, mulch, and debris. Do a spring cleaning of the area, removing anything in the way until you are back to the bare soil. ... Prune. ... Prepare the soil. ... Set up new planters and garden beds. ... Divide perennials like Daylilies.

How do I prepare my vegetable garden for spring?

0:253:18How to prepare vegetable garden beds in spring - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipClean that up and throw it in your compost bin this is also a good time to pull any weeds if anyMoreClean that up and throw it in your compost bin this is also a good time to pull any weeds if any spring weeds seem to appear. And they're always the first plans to emerge.

How do I prepare my garden soil for next year?

Here are seven simple things you can do now to prep soil now for next season:Take a Test. ... Leave the Roots. ... Add Compost. ... Spread Some Manure. ... Sprinkle with Fertilizer. ... Pile on the Leaves. ... Plant Cover Crops.

When should I rake my garden in the spring?

Wait as long as you can to do your spring garden clean up. Ideally, you should wait until the daytime temperatures are consistently above 50 degrees F for at least 7 consecutive days.

What should I do to prepare my garden for spring in winter?

10 Ways to Prepare Your Garden for WinterClean up diseased plants. Leave the rest in place. ... Remove invasive weeds that may have taken hold over the growing season. ... Amend your soil for spring. ... Plant cover crops. ... Prune perennials with care. ... Divide and plant bulbs. ... Harvest and regenerate your compost. ... Replenish mulch.More items...•

Should I rototill my garden every year?

Using a rototiller in the garden can make the soil light and easy to plant, break up tough root systems and move plant material into the soil. Rototilling every year can actually cause damage to the garden by increasing erosion, removing nutrients from the soil and disrupting organisms that are needed for soil health.

When should you rototill your garden?

Rototill well before planting. You'll want to till about two or three weeks before you plant your garden. The long lead time gives your soil a chance to break up; receive fertilizer, compost or manure; and allow little critters, such as earth worms, to begin their beneficial work.

When should I add compost to my garden?

When To Add Compost To The Garden (Now or Later?)An ideal time to add compost to your garden is in the spring every year. ... This will encourage plant growth by enriching the soil, promoting biodiversity, helping prevent erosion, and retaining moisture.Mix compost into your soil in the spring or fall.

What can I add to my garden soil to make it better?

Consider adding organic materials, such as manure, compost, bone meal, or fish emulsion, to your soil. They will enrich the soil, creating a fertile base for all your landscaping plants, vegetables, and flowers.

How do you improve spring soil?

Add Organic Matter Organic matter is the gardener's cure-all, no matter what your soil type. It will make heavy clay soils lighter and improve drainage, and it will help retain both moisture and nutrients in sandy soils. Simply put, organic matter of any kind is great news for your soil – and the plants you grow in it!

What is the best thing to mix to make garden soil?

Classic Soil-Based Mix: 1 part peat moss or mature compost. 1 part garden loam or topsoil. 1 part clean builder's sand or perlite.

How do you rejuvenate garden soil?

Below are seven ways you can improve garden soil.Add Compost. Compost is decomposed organic matter, and it is the best thing you use to improve the health of garden soil. ... Get a Soil Test. ... Mulch the Soil Surface. ... Prevent Soil Compaction. ... Rotate Crops Each Year. ... Grow Cover Crops. ... Add Aged Animal Manure.

Preparing your garden for spring

With an existing garden already in place, you’ll most likely have a spring cleaning routine of your own, yet gardens always have room for improvement.

1. Purchase and organize seeds

Assuming that you have already spent some time deciding where your garden will be, you’ll want to be ready with either sun-loving, or shade-loving plants, perhaps a combination of the two.

2. Create a planting calendar

My husband and I have spent many a moment trying to remember what time of year it was when we planted a particular garden seed. Even long trying to recall when it was ready for harvest.

3. Sow long-season seeds

Before many seeds can be direct sown into the sun-warmed soil, others will benefit from being planted inside, in pots.

4. Start collecting rainwater

It might feel too early to think about watering your garden, but summers can be unpredictable at best.

5. Add compost to your garden

Adding the right kind (s) and the right amount of compost to your garden, can only improve it. Not only does it serve to benefit the health of the soil, it can improve water drainage as well, if that is an issue in your garden.

6. Other soil amendments

Manure is an excellent source of nutrients for your garden, though it is best applied in fall. Naturally, there are exceptions. If your manure is completely aged, you can add it to your garden 90 days prior to your first garden harvest, if what you are growing, the actual edibles, do not come in contact with the soil.

What are some things to do in the spring?

Spring garden chores will include general maintenance, propagation, fertilizing, and getting a jump on handling pests and weeds.

How to clean sodden soil?

It is better to wait until the soil is damp. If you absolutely need to walk on the sodden soil, use stepping stones or lay planks out to walk on. In the meantime, you can do some general detritus cleanup. There will almost always be twigs, branches, leaves or needles to clean up.

How to grow begonias indoors?

Then it’s time to get your hands dirty and plant summer blooming bulbs. Start begonias indoors along with warm weather crops such as tomato. Outside, direct sow cool weather crops like greens, peas, radishes, beets, carrots and leeks.

What to plant in spring?

Start warm-season veggies. While you're harvesting the radishes and lettuces you sowed earlier in the spring, you can transplant seedlings of warm-season crops like tomatoes, peppers, and all sorts of herbs. 4. Plant summer-blooming bulbs.

How to keep birds from swarming in spring?

Some people like to take down their bird feeders in mid-spring and put them away until fall. If you want to leave them up year-round, now's a good time to take them down, wash them out, and fill them up with fresh seed or nectar for spring.

Why divide perennials?

Dividing perennials is a budget-friendly way to fill your garden with more plants or share them with friends. It's also good for keeping your existing perennials healthy; sometimes, if your plants grow in a large clump, the middle can thin out after a few years, leaving a bare spot.

When to clean up flowers that have already bloomed?

In late spring, you can start cleaning up flowers that have already bloomed. It's also time to get planting in earnest to fill out your garden. 1. Deadhead bulbs. Remove spent blossoms from spring-flowering bulbs; this encourages the plants to store energy for next year rather than use it to make seeds.

Can you transplant radishes in the spring?

While you're harvesting the radishes and lettuces you sowed earlier in the spring, you can transplant seedlings of warm- season crops like tomatoes, peppers, and all sorts of herbs.

How to get your garden ready for spring?

Inspect your soil. To really get your garden ready for spring, start with the soil. One of the biggest mistakes that inexperienced gardeners make is to start planting and working the soil too early. Months of snow and rain make for a very wet and compacted soil.

When is the best time to replace garden tools?

Spring is a good time to check over your tools. Some may have seen there better days and need replacing. Hopefully, you gave them some care before you put them away in the fall. Put these spring garden tips for tools in place to give you a good foundation for your work.

How to tell if a perennial is dead?

Remove any dead plants and add them to the compost pile . If they really are dead, they won’t grow back. Signs of a dead perennial is a rotten root ball or crown. There should be some sign of life in the center of the crown.

Why do you rake your lawn in spring?

When you are working to get your garden ready for spring, don’t forget the lawns. Raking your lawns will get rid of winter debris. It will also help to aerate the soil to insure that air gets to the root zone and will get your lawn off to a good start.

What to check when using raised garden beds?

If you use raised garden beds, it is important to check the sides. Are they bowing? Are the joints coming apart ? If so, fix them now.

When is National Gardening Day?

April 14 is National Gardening Day. That means it is time to start thinking about ways to get your garden ready with these spring garden tips. Winter is hard on a garden and spring brings with it a host of tasks that need taking care of. Whether you are interested in vegetable gardening or just love to grow flowers, these tips will be helpful.

When to divide perennials?

Early spring is the time to divide over grown perennials. Give some to your gardening friends or plant the divisions in other areas of your garden. Transplant plants that are just too big for the garden bed they are in now.

What is the most important thing to do when preparing your garden for spring?

Ensuring your soil is workable is probably the most important step in preparing your garden for spring. Here's everything you need to know about healthy, workable soil for successful gardening.

What is the best way to clean out a flower bed?

To clean out flower beds, greenhouses and more, you'll need the right supplies and equipment. This includes a non-toxic detergent to remove moss, algae, grime and lingering pests. Spray bottles, old Tupperware and giant buckets also come in handy.

How to get your garden going again in spring?

Prep for Spring. The effort you put in now as you put your garden to bed for the winter will benefit you in the spring by making it easier to get your garden going again. Enrich garden beds with compost or manure. Just spread an even layer on any exposed soil. Winter's freezing and thawing, with some extra help from the earthworms, ...

How to winterize a water garden?

Winterize your water garden. Get ready to turn off the pump and turn on the ice breaker. Don't forget to cover the water garden with netting, to keep the falling leaves out. Keep trees and shrubs well watered until the ground freezes.

How to get rid of birds in your garden?

Gather herbs, seed heads, and flowers for drying. Leave some flowers for the birds, but get a headstart on your garden clean-up by cutting back plants like hydrangea and yarrow and bringing them indoors, for some garden memories. Take cuttings now, before a frost turns your plants to mush.

How to keep trees alive in the winter?

Keep trees and shrubs well watered until the ground freezes. They may look dormant, but they're still alive. If you have a mild, dry winter, continue watering throughout the season. This goes doubly for trees that were planted this year.

How to get a head start in the spring?

Collect them now to give you a head-start in the spring. Collect dried seed from open-pollinated flowers and veggies. You can save it to sow next year or do some strategic self-sowing in other parts of your garden. You might even want to try to expand your skills with winter sowing. Gather herbs, seed heads, and flowers for drying.

Is it better to plant in the fall or spring?

Gardening in the fall is a great time to look back on your garden successes and disappointments, but there's still plenty of time left for most of us to do some last-minute garden maintenance. Fall gardening takes advantage of cooler temperatures and fewer insects and putting the garden to bed is nowhere near as hectic as waking it up in the spring. You'll have time to really see how your plants are doing.

Is it a good time to plant in the fall?

Gardening in the fall is a great time to look back on your garden success es and disappointments , but there's still plenty of time left for most of us to do some last-minute garden maintenance. Fall gardening takes advantage of cooler temperatures and fewer insects and putting the garden to bed is nowhere near as hectic as waking it up in the spring.

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First of all, Clean Up Your Garden

This is a good idea to do. You want to clean up all of your old plants so that bad insects don’t over winter in them. Along with plants, clean up any hoses, plastic or cages that may be there. Put them all away in your garden shed for the winter so you’ll know where they are in the spring.

Work the Soil Gently

When your tools are all picked up, it’s time to prepare your soil for spring. The first thing you’re going to do is work the ground. Use a tiller to work the soil minimally. This will grind up any plants or roots still in the ground. Be sure to till only when the soil is dry.

Soil Test

A simple soil test will tell you everything you need to know about the nutrients needed before you fertilize. Knowing this information can do a number of things for you. First, it can save you a lot of money. If you plan to fertilize before you know what your soil needs, how in the world are you going to know what to put on.

Fertilize As Needed

When you get your soil test results back, read them. If you don’t understand them, contact your local Extension service or the soil lab or send them to me and I’ll interpret them for you. If you had the standard sample done, you’ll likely have results about the pH level and the content of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium.

Cover Crops

These are crops you can plant in late summer or early fall and let them overwinter in your garden. Cover crops do a number of things for your garden soil. The first thing it does is act as a ground cover.

Ready for Spring Planting

With these 4 tasks for prepping your garden soil for planting, you’ll be ready to head into the garden next spring. Your soil will be the perfect bed for seeds and plants. And you won’t have to wait for the garden to warm up to work the ground or fertilize. It’ll be all ready to go.

How to prepare garden tools for the next season?

Here are some ways to prepare your garden tools for the next growing season. Use warm water and soap to clean all of the garden tools. Remove all traces of dirt, plant material, and rust. Sharpen pruners and any other cutting tools that you have with a whetstone at the same angle as the blade .

When to clean out garden debris?

Once the growing season is over, debris needs to be cleaned out from your garden beds. Throughout spring, summer, and fall, fallen leaves, decaying plant matter, sticks, and other items make your garden beds untidy. Take this time to rake and pull out any leaves and debris.

Why add compost to garden beds?

The other benefit of adding compost to your garden beds is that it helps to encourage robust root systems in perennials.

When to transplant cuttings from garden?

It’s easier to bring in small cuttings of plants to over-winter rather than huge pots of mature plants. Later, in the spring, these cuttings will be ready to transplant into your garden beds once the soil warms up.

When should I gather pea seeds?

Once the vines are brown, I take off the pods, which are full of dried pea seeds ready for storage. Most people know that they should gather seeds in the summer, but it’s also an essential fall garden task.

When is the best time to plant a garden?

Fall is my favorite time in the garden. For most areas in the U.S., it’s the end of the heavy harvest season, so you aren’t spending all of your time canning, cooking, and tending the garden. But unlike the dormant season, the garden still has plenty growing, and you’re enjoying the fruits of a successful year.

Is it ok to think about spring?

It seems strange to think about spring when the year isn’t over, but being prepared is always the best course. By preparing ahead of time with the right fall garden tasks, you’ll have nutritious soil without weeds, cuttings ready to be planted, and seeds stored for planting.

What to add to soil in fall for spring garden?

If you do a soil test, the results may indicate additional amendments are needed. As for organic matter, compost is king, but chicken or cow manure is wonderful, provided you add them to the soil in the fall and allow them to age a bit.

How to slow down weeds in a new garden bed?

Amend the bed with 2 to 3 inches (5- 7.6 cm.) of compost mixed well and deeply with soil. Then cover the bed with a 3- to 4-inch (8-10 cm.) layer of mulch to slow down weeds.