It’s that time of the year! For most of us across North America spring is right around the corner, and it’s time to start preparing our gardens for the growing season. It can be a busy time depending on the size of your garden and what you have planned for the season. So with that in mind we’re presenting a list of things to think about as your getting your garden ready for spring. You may not need to do all of these—or you may have some work to do that isn’t on this list—but either way we hope this blog helps you to prepare your garden for Spring.
First and foremost, it’s time to do some inventory. We find it best to start garden season with some tool inventory and maintenance. Find all your garden tools, make sure they’re still in good shape from last season, and given them whatever care they may need to work their best. It’s also a good time to check through your seeds and see what you have, what needs to be used, and what needs to be replaced. This gives you time to order or purchase whatever additional seeds or gear you’ll need for your garden this year without losing time in the growing season.
The next item on the list is soil care. What this entails will vary from place to place and garden to garden, but generally you’ll want to refresh your soil—either in containers or garden beds—with some fresh compost and perhaps a bit of fertilizer. You might also want to add some additional organic matter (like sphagnum moss) in order to loosen up soil that may have compacted in the cold and snow. It may also be a good time to have your soil tested by a commercial testing service or your local extension office depending on what services are most easily available. Soil testing can tell you what your soil needs in terms of additives, compost, or fertilizer, and help you plan your gardening and planting schedule this year.
Speaking of planning, we strongly recommend making at least a basic garden plan for the year. Even if you have a layout and routine that works well for you, it’s a good idea to list out what needs to be done, when, and in what order. That helps keep things on track and ensures that we don’t miss a step or forget a particular task or project in the excitement of getting the garden going after a long winter.
While we recommend leaving some corners of the garden or yard wild if possible in order to support local insects and wildlife, we also recommend taking some time in the spring to clean up your gardening spaces. Remove unwanted debris, ensure that weeds, stones, and other unwanted items are cleared from your garden beds and soil, and tidy up any storage spaces, greenhouses, or sheds you may make use of. Doing this now will save time and frustration when you’re trying to enjoy working in your garden—and it may just remind you of equipment or tools that need care or replacement, too.
The next step is one of the most enjoyable for us—it’s time to start some seeds! When and how you start your seeds will depend in the length of your growing season and the last “risk of frost” date for your location, but there are some good guides both in our blog and elsewhere to help you get the process started. As always, consulting with your local garden club, nursery, or extension office can give you information tailored to your locale and your garden, so now’s also a good time to get out there and connect with some other gardeners both online and off.
There’s always more to do, but we also recommend relaxing and enjoying the process. Gardening means different things to different people, but whether you’re growing some indoor plants in containers, tending the vegetable plot that feeds your household, or maintaining some carefully designed landscaping, it’s important to take a moment and enjoy the connection gardening gives us with plants, with the earth, and with nature. Gardzen knows how important the spiritual and emotional components of gardening can be, and we look forward to hearing from you this season!
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