Preparing your garden for spring

Getting your garden ready for spring is one of the most important steps to ensure a healthy, productive growing season. Here’s a practical, step-by-step guide you can follow to wake your garden up the right way:

1. Clean Up & Clear Out
Start by removing anything left behind from winter:
Dead plants, fallen branches, and leaves
Old mulch that may contain mold or pests
Weeds that got a head start

This helps prevent disease and pests from carrying into the new season.

2. Prep and Refresh Your Soil
Healthy soil = healthy plants.
Loosen compacted soil (especially after winter rains)
Add compost or organic matter
Test soil pH and nutrients (simple kits work great)
Mix in a balanced fertilizer if needed

3. Prune & Trim Plants
Cut back dead or damaged branches
Trim perennials and ornamental grasses
Shape shrubs before new growth starts

Tip: Avoid pruning spring-flowering plants too early—you might cut off blooms.

4. Plan & Plant
Now the fun part:
Decide what you want to grow (flowers, veggies, herbs)
Start seeds indoors or plant cold-hardy crops outside
Map out spacing and sunlight needs

Early spring plants: lettuce, spinach, peas, pansies

5. Check Watering & Irrigation
Inspect hoses, sprinklers, and drip systems
Fix leaks or clogs
Set a watering schedule (early morning is best)

6. Mulch & Protect
Add a fresh layer of mulch to retain moisture and block weeds
Protect young plants from late frosts with covers if needed

7. Watch for Pests Early
Check under leaves and around stems
Use natural pest control methods early (like neem oil or companion planting)
Encourage beneficial insects like ladybugs

Bonus Tips for Success

• Rotate crops if you grow vegetables
• Clean and sharpen garden tools
• Start slow—don’t plant everything at once