Spring is just around the corner, and there are many tasks to complete in the garden before the planting season begins. These tasks include clearing dead growth, choosing spring flowers, testing the soil, and more.
Shelby DeVore, a farmer and gardener from Fort Worth, Texas, emphasizes the importance of preparing your plants for a healthy year ahead. Daniel McCurry, owner of Father Nature in Birmingham, Alabama, shares similar sentiments about setting up your garden for success.
To start, it’s crucial to test your soil, treating it like a living ecosystem that can benefit your plants when healthy. You can test the soil yourself with a kit or have it professionally tested. Amending the soil before spring is also essential, as Jennifer Hatalski from Calloway’s Nursery in North Richland Hills suggests. Compost and manure can enhance the soil’s nutritional value and address various issues.
Proper maintenance of garden tools is another crucial step. Sharpen tools using a stone or have them professionally sharpened, and store them in sand to prevent rust and maintain sharpness.
Late winter is a good time for limited pruning to remove any unhealthy or dead growth. By following these steps, you can prepare your garden for a successful spring season.
“This year’s growth can be enhanced and the chances of widespread disease reduced,” McCurry explains. Pruning allows plants time to heal before new spring growth begins. “It also eliminates unnecessary growth, making it easier to add mulch in the upcoming months,” he adds.
Get Started on Your Garden
It’s time to start planning your garden. If there were plants you loved from last year, consider planting them again. “Refer back to your gardening journal from the previous season and review it. (If you don’t have one, now is the perfect opportunity to start- they are incredibly helpful!)” suggests DeVore. Let your creativity shine as you plan what you want to plant and where.
“It doesn’t have to be complicated, but I recommend that gardeners keep a dedicated journal to track what they plant, when they plant it, the varieties used, issues with disease or pests, remedies tried, successful approaches, and unsuccessful attempts,” DeVore advises. It can be challenging to remember from year to year what worked well and what didn’t.
Your future gardening self will thank you if you start a garden journal and planning process before the spring season arrives.
Plan Your Containers
If space is limited, container gardening is a great solution. “Container gardens are a simple way to spruce up your home and garden,” says Hatalksi. Decide where to place your containers, choose the style, ensure there’s enough sunlight, and select plants based on light availability.
Prepare the pots by adding fresh soil so they are ready for planting in spring. “Consider using the thriller, filler, spiller method,” she suggests. This technique creates visually appealing containers with a mix of height, color, and texture.
For more tips, read the original article on Southern Living.
