To plant a garden, you don’t need tons of skill, but it requires a lot of patience.
Over time, you’ll learn the ins and outs of what works in your climate, what you like, and how to improve your plants. Without patience, it’s easy to give up quickly.
The thing is, much of what you do now, you won’t notice for weeks or months! What’s going on below the surface might look like nothing, but those roots are growing, and the buds are developing.
Spring is the best time of year for gardens to bloom. The trick is to get started today if you want your fresh harvest, though. By doing these simple things early, next spring’s garden will be bountiful and beautiful!
1. Start Training for Shaping
Once the harsh winter temps are gone, it’s the perfect opportunity to start trimming and shaping your shrubs and trees. Click here for a company that can help you. It’s too cool for any new growth to start, so any cuts you make now won’t have an effect until springtime.
Freezing temperatures have probably killed a bit of the growth. Prune off the dead parts, as well as about one-third of the living material.
This encourages the plant to grow in the direction of your cut. Angle your trimmers carefully if you have a certain way you want the new growth to come in fresh.
2. Cover the Empty Spots
Before winter sets in, be sure to get all the grass seed down in any bare spots. It’s important to do this as your actual grass is still growing. The time of year that works best for your seedlings depends on the type of grass and your climate.
Buy the grass seed you want, then prep the bare soil to grow the new plants. You’ll need some fertilizer and a method to use for your baby grass to get regular water.
Covering those empty spots at the right time will ensure you have new growth in your garden when spring comes around.
3. Move Your Fragile Plants Indoors
Plants that grow naturally in your ecosystem can usually withstand the changing seasons. Others, though, are too sensitive to handle extreme temperatures.
If you have potted annuals, you can bring them indoors without causing too much shock. When nights start to hit about 50°F regularly, it’s time to start building your inside garden.
Some plants can be grown indoors or outdoors, like cannabis. If you already have the perfect setup, including lights and a watering system, it’s easier to move any plants inside that have to stay warm.
However, if you don’t already have a plan for these flowers, you’ll need to know where you want to put them and how you’ll care for them. Get them inside before they freeze or burn. Then, use these tips to set up your new indoor garden.
4. Plant Springtime Bulbs
The simplest thing to do to ensure you have a springtime garden is to plant bulbs that bloom then.
Spring is the season for fresh shoots breaking through the ground. And when you see so many sprigs of green in your garden, it gives you a feeling of pride.
The bulbs you’ll want to plant can vary depending on your climate. In general, most geographic locations can plant daffodils, hyacinths, and crocuses. Tulips are a little harder to grow in extreme temperatures, but you can try.
If rodents are a nuisance, you’ll need to prevent them from getting into your garden while your bulbs are germinating. You can use chicken wire around the perimeter to stop above-land chewers, like deer.
Burrowers, on the other hand, need a little more encouragement to stay away. Certain herbs can discourage rodents and bugs. Plant some basil, mint, sage, or lemongrass. Add some garlic, too. It deters vampires and garden pests.
5. Clean the Garden
In addition to extreme temperatures, your plants can become sick from diseases. Most of these are soil-borne, meaning they get into the roots through the soil.
Soil-borne diseases are resilient. They’ll survive through very hot and cold weather. When your new growth comes through in the spring, it will be contaminated.
To keep this from happening, get rid of anything in your garden that could be holding these germs. Anything dead, including plants, should be removed. Unless you purposely used healthy plants to turn into compost, there’s a chance that what’s lying around is diseased.
Trim and toss any dead branches and foliage. Rake up leaves and bag them to take to a recycling facility. Be very careful about what you let sit on the ground until spring. It could destroy your long-anticipated fresh growth.
Conclusion
Gardening is a long lesson in patience. The harder you work now, the better your results will be later.
As you’re planning your spring garden, the actions you need to take are now, not then. Follow these five simple tips today, and you’ll reap the benefits next spring!
