After being cooped up all winter, spring is the perfect time to get out in the garden and start growing your food. However, getting your garden ready for spring planting requires a lot of work. Spring is the time to clean up winter debris, prune woody ornamentals, sow seeds, plant late-season bulbs, create containers, divide perennials, rejuvenate soil, and more. Getting these tasks done early will give you plenty of time to enjoy your garden throughout the season. That’s why it’s important to get organized with a spring gardening checklist. This will help you pace yourself as you tackle all the tasks required to create a pretty landscape for your home. If you’re looking for some tips on how to design landscape beds to perfection, be sure to check out this helpful article on Landscapes and More.
Planting
Once the snow melts and the sun is rising, it’s time to get busy planting your spring garden. While it may seem like a lot to do, gardening is one of the best ways to enjoy the warmer months after a long winter’s hibernation. To make your garden look its best, plan plants that are natural to your climate and soil. Also, consider how much sunlight and shade your yard receives throughout the year.
- Prepare the Soil. Whether you have a vegetable garden, flower bed or just a patch of dandelions, the soil is critical to growing a healthy plant. Besides providing sun, water and nutrients, it’s also home to a host of organisms, including earthworms, insects, and microorganisms that break down dead leaves and plant matter into readily available nutrients for your garden.
- Clean Up The Area. Spring is a good time to do the cleanup because the soil is moist and weeds are easier to control. Besides, a good clean up helps you get an idea of what areas need some extra care.
- Add Fresh Mulch. Mulching keeps the soil moisture high and can help suppress weeds. It also protects sensitive plants from temperature extremes and helps reduce runoff.
- Plant Your Perennials. Whether you’re looking for an evergreen ground cover, tall flowers that bloom all summer, or foliage that adds year-round interest, perennials have you covered. They come in a wide range of shapes, sizes, colors and textures.Perennials are great plants to plant in mass groupings. They add a splash of color and interest to the landscape in unexpected ways, and they are also incredibly low maintenance.
- Plant Your Trees and Shrubs. Planting trees and shrubs is an excellent way to add color to your landscape. They also give you more of a reason to spend time outside during the spring. When choosing trees and shrubs, consider their size, how they will look in your landscape, their water management needs, and their ability to thrive in your area
Pruning
Pruning is one of the most important maintenance practices for a beautiful landscape. Remove dead branches and stems from shrubs, hedges, and leggy perennials, if needed. However, it can also be a daunting task for many homeowners. A well-pruned tree or shrub will make a dramatic impact on your property. It can provide shade and privacy, add to the curb appeal of your home, or even serve as a playground for kids.
Fertilizing
When you fertilize your lawn and garden, make sure you use the right kind of product at the right time. Too much fertilizer will harm the plant and may contaminate groundwater. Choosing the correct fertilizer is important because nutrient needs vary by plant, soil type and weather conditions. Look for a formula that has the three essential nutrients: nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) – the N-P-K ratio will be listed on the fertilizer label.
Weeding
Weeding is one of the most important spring gardening tasks, so start early. Remove weeds before they have a chance to get established and grow big enough to take over your garden. After weeding, mulch beds that don’t contain perennials to help prevent new weeds from sprouting in the coming season and give your soil some much-needed oxygen. Use a mulch that contains organic materials like compost or peat.
Watering
We all know that water is an essential ingredient for a healthy, beautiful garden. But knowing when to water and how much can be tricky. Watering too frequently can cause shallow root growth, which leads to a greater chance of fungal growth. It can also cause plants to wilt. To check soil moisture, feel it with your fingers. If the soil sticks together easily in your palm, it’s probably moist enough to go without a watering. If the soil feels dry a few inches down, it’s time to water. But wait a day before you do.