Gardening Tips for Early Spring

My Garden Life
March 6, 2017
Table of Contents

Winter weather can leave your landscape looking somewhat shabby. Even though it’s a little early for planting in many areas of the country, spring cleaning can begin as soon as the worst of winter is over and the snow clears. Get things done now so that you’ll be ready to plant when spring fever hits.

Late Winter Cleanup

Once the snow starts to melt away pick up any sticks and branches that fell during winter. Rake up any leaves still lying around from the fall.

If you live in a cold climate where evergreen shrubs are typically wrapped in burlap for the winter, it’s safe to unwrap them now that the coldest weather has passed.

Prune off any brown branches on your evergreens.

Remove any dead annual or vegetable plants that may have been left in the ground over winter.

Now is the time to cut back any perennials that you didn’t get to in fall, before the new growth starts to appear.

This is also a good time to prune many types of trees and shrubs while they are still dormant and the branches aren’t covered with leaves.

Pruning Branches, Sticks, Rake leaned on bench

Soil Prep

Once the soil dries out a bit, it’s time to prepare beds for planting annual flowers and vegetables.

Pull up any stakes, plant tags, drip irrigation lines or other objects left out from last year.

You may also wish to rake out last year’s mulch from your flower beds if it is looking old and discolored. Old bark or leaf mulch make great additions to a compost pile. Add fresh mulch around perennial plants any time before the spring growth starts. New plants can be mulched later, just after planting.

Spread a fresh 1 to 2-inch layer of planting mix or compost over the soil. Planting mix can be left on the surface and planted directly into. For vegetables, however, it’s always best to till to a depth of 6-8″ in order to thoroughly mix the old and new soil. (Unless you’re planting into raised vegetable beds, such as those with wooden sides.)

Spread slow release fertilizer, compost and other soil amendments over your perennial beds before the plants emerge. No need to till these into the soil, just cover the beds with fresh mulch later in spring to help with water conservation.

Mulch, Compost, Slow Release Fertilizer

Tips for Garden Tools

Gas-powered equipment such as lawnmowers, string trimmers, and blowers can be tough to start after they’ve sat idle for the winter.

Tune-up Gas Powered Lawn Equipment

1. Drain & Replace Gas 2. Replace Air Filters 3. Replace Spark Plugs 4. Sharpen Blades

 

Sharpen Cutting Tools

Hand Shears Grass Shears Loppers

 

Local hardware stores and small equipment shops typically offer spring tune-up and sharpening services, though they book up fast as spring approaches. Get an early start and make an appointment now.

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Posts

Spring Planting – Vegetables

Spring Planting – Vegetables

Winter has had us all cooped up, and it's time to get back into the garden (or container garden) and start planting all sorts of yummy veggies!
5 Clever Ways to Use Plant Containers

5 Clever Ways to Use Plant Containers

We love how these pictures show ways to arrange and group potted plants to create welcoming, inviting, and relaxing outdoor spaces. Whether it's a poolside retreat or outdoor seating area, planters are a quick way to add color and style to gathering places.
How to Successfully Move Plants to a New Home

How to Successfully Move Plants to a New Home

Indoor and outdoor plants give color and warmth to your home. Taking them with you when you move is like taking along old friends. With the proper planning, your plants will have your new space feeling like home in no time.

Related Posts

What Should I Do in the Garden in April?

What Should I Do in the Garden in April?

9 Perfect Pick-Me-Up Plants to bring Spring Vibes

9 Perfect Pick-Me-Up Plants to bring Spring Vibes

Spring Flowering Bulbs

Spring Flowering Bulbs

frost map with dates

Frost Map with Dates

USDA zone finder with zip code search and maps

USDA Zone Finder

plant library

Plant Library

Save plants to your personal library

Join My Garden Club to access more features

Already a member?
Log in now

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This

Share this post with your friends!