After a long and cold winter, spring is eagerly waiting to welcome you back into the garden for a season filled with beautiful blooms, delightful fragrances, and vibrant greenery. Spring gardening brings a sense of excitement as you sow seeds, nurture plants, and watch your garden come back to life. The memories of the harsh winter slowly fade away in the warm embrace of spring. It's the perfect time to bring your garden to life and enjoy a new season of growth.
Spring gardening is a delightful way to embrace the awakening of garden life after the cozy hibernation of winter. The melting of snow and slush gives rise to lush green grass and fertile soil, eagerly awaiting the enchanting season. It's the perfect time to sow spring crops and transform your garden into a captivating paradise, ready to flourish during the warmer months.
The planning involves getting the garden ready, checking for any damages caused by winter, taking inventory of all the tools and supplies, and making sure everything is set for a fantastic growing season. We've got some essential spring gardening checklists for you right here.
Happy gardening! 🌼🌱
1. Procure or prepare the gardening tools
To start gardening, it's important to gather the necessary tools. If you already have the tools, it's a good idea to make sure they are in working condition. Take a moment to sharpen the blades and oil any metal components.
For cleaning bladed tools, you can use detergent, hot water, and a scrubber. Another option is to use mill files to remove and prevent corrosion, followed by oiling. Sharpening the blades will greatly improve their performance. Don't forget to check if any of the tools need maintenance or replacement. Additionally, remember to oil and clean hand tools like spades, hoes, trowels, and rakes.
Lastly, store all the essential tools in a dry and secure location to keep them in good condition throughout the entire gardening season.
2. Prune old plants and trees
It's important to make sure that the trees and shrubs are regularly checked. If there are any high-risk trees, it's a good idea to have them pruned. If there are any major jobs to be done, it would be best to consult an arborist. It's also important to remove any dead branches or branches that may have been damaged during the winter storm. If there are any hanging branches or branches showing signs of pests or diseases, it's best to prune and remove them.
3. Manage hardscaping issues
The first task is to remove the perennial foliage from the previous year. Next, it is important to check the retaining walls to see if any repairs are needed due to freezing. Additionally, make sure to fix any damaged fences, decks, sheds, trellises, raised beds, and window boxes. Don't forget to clean the gutters and level out any stepping stones. Finally, apply a fresh coat of paint, stain, and sealant to any wooden hardscaping elements.
4. Clean and wash the greenhouse
To ensure a successful spring season, it's important to give the greenhouse some TLC. Start by giving the exterior a good wash and disinfection to boost the natural lighting and keep pests and diseases at bay. Don't forget to clean and disinfect the pots, seed trays, and plant containers as well. Lastly, make sure to thoroughly clean and disinfect the interior to keep pests, algae, and moss away. With a clean and well-prepared greenhouse, your seedlings and cuttings will thrive!
Here are some excellent tips for maintaining a greenhouse for beginners
5. Prepare the soil
To start, let's clear out any weeds that have grown in the flower beds. It's important to remove any unwanted weeds, leaves, and debris from the flower beds. Additionally, let's remove the protective winter mulch around the perennials and ornamental grasses. We should also loosen the soil and add nutrients to promote proper growth, budding, and blooming of the plants.
For the soil, we have a few good options to consider: rotten manure, compost, or recycled green waste. These materials will refresh the soil with all the necessary nutrients that may have been stripped away during the winter. If needed, we can also conduct a soil test to determine the ideal selection of nutrients.
Remember, the soil is the backbone of your garden, so proper planning is essential before planting any flowering plants, vegetable plants, herbs, or fruit plants. By properly preparing the soil and selecting the right nutrients, we can ensure better results in your garden.
6. Prepare a composting area
It is a good idea to set up a composting area in your garden. You can either buy ready-made bins specifically designed for this purpose or get creative by using spare wooden materials to build your own containers. This composting area will come in handy for creating high-quality compost. By recycling garden waste, dried leaves, wood prunings, vegetable peelings, and kitchen scraps, you can produce natural fertilizer that will greatly benefit the healthy growth of your plants. And guess what? It only takes about a month to prepare the compost. Isn't that awesome?
Here are some creative DIY ideas for making your very own compost bin
7. Procure seeds and plants
Once the soil is ready and well prepared, it's time to get seeds and plants. You can buy them from local shops and nurseries, which is great because they're suited to the native weather conditions.
You can also find them online from seed companies. Another option is to reach out to local farmers for spring and summer seeds and plants. Keep in mind that seeds may take some time to germinate, so be patient and wait for them to start growing.
8. Design your garden and start planting!
Before you visit the nursery, it's a good idea to plan out your landscape and determine what new plants and perennials you need and how you want them arranged. Take the time to carefully select the pots and trays you'll be using. When planning your creepers, think about how they can add an appealing touch to your garden.
For this season, you can consider planting new trees, shrubs, flowering bulbs, vegetable plants, and some cool season annuals. If you're looking for summer flowering bulbs, options like gladioli, crocosmia, begonias, and hesperantha can be great choices. You can also plant rose and wildflower seeds that will attract bees and butterflies. Don't forget about perennials like primrose, alyssum, bugleweed, violets, bluebell, geranium, coneflower, and catmint.
When it comes to flowers, you have a variety of options to choose from. Gypsophila, impatiens, geraniums, marigolds, and sunflowers are just a few possibilities. You can also consider planting pansies, lilies, daffodils, crocus, hyacinths, tulips, camelia, iris, and magnolia.
If you're interested in growing herbs, you can plant chives, coriander, dill, parsley, and basil. Additionally, this season is a good time to plant onions, garlic, potatoes, and shallots. For your vegetable garden, consider lettuce, peas, tomatoes, spinach, beets, cucumbers, carrots, and beans. Remember, there are plenty of options and choices to bring your garden to life!
Follow these steps to map out and design a beautiful garden
9. Apply pest controls
When the weather starts to warm up, pesky pests come out and are eager to attack the plants. It's important to use these pest controls right from the start. Make sure to carefully follow the manufacturer's instructions regarding the quantity and frequency of use. Also, keep them out of reach of children and remember to wash your hands properly after applying them to the plants.
Conclusion
After the long and cold winter, spring is finally here, and it's the perfect time to get out in the garden and bring it back to life. Spring gardening not only adds beauty to your garden, but it also allows you to grow a variety of useful herbs and vegetables.
To make the most of this season, there are a few essentials that you should keep in mind. Follow this spring gardening checklist to ensure a successful gardening experience. Start by organizing your garden tools and equipment. Take some time to prune any old trees and plants and address any landscaping issues. Don't forget to clean and disinfect your greenhouse.
Preparing the soil is crucial for the health of your plants. Make sure they receive proper nutrition by using fertilizers and organic manures. When buying seeds, flowering bulbs, and plants, be sure to choose good quality ones. Take the time to plan, design, and schedule your garden properly. Lastly, apply pest control measures to keep your plants in good health.
Enjoy the process of gardening and watch your garden flourish this spring!