After a long, tiring winter, the time you’ve been waiting for is finally here. Springtime is the season of hope as it brings about the arrival of new leaves and bright blossoms in your garden. If you are planning to pick up a hobby and stay fit in spring, gardening is one of the spring outdoor activities you can try.
Ready to head outdoors? Now’s the time to get into your garden to prepare your garden beds and vegetable patches. Here’s a guide with seven essential tips to help you achieve your spring gardening goals.
Prepare Your Gardening Tools
Get your gardening tools back in shape by cleaning and sharpening them. It’s important to do this before you head out to the garden so that the tools can function properly when it’s time to use them.
Inspect and Clean Up Your Garden
Once you head back to your garden after winter, the first thing you need to do is perform a thorough inspection and start cleaning up. Start by checking on the woody plants to see if there is any winter damage. Branches that are cracked or broken should then be pruned.
Put on your gardening gloves and clean out your garden beds. This will help to remove weeds, weed seeds, and dead leaves. While you’re at it, be sure to get rid of garden pests too.
Create New Planting Beds
If you plan to extend your garden, you can start by preparing new beds where there’s space. Work the soil when it is moist and turn it over to at least 12 inches deep. Then, add oxygen and about two to three inches of compost before turning it into the bed. This will add nutrients to the soil and improve the soil structure. Finally, rake the soil till it’s smooth before planting your seeds.
Add Fertilizers
Fertilizers are the fuel your garden needs to thrive and flourish. You can use fertilizers that have the label 6-6-6 or 8-8-8. Another good fertilizer you can try is fish emulsion, which is a great alternative for trees and shrubs. Likewise, you can spread high-acid fertilizers around shrubs like blueberries, citrus, lantana camara, or hydrangeas.
Transplant Evergreen and Deciduous Shrubs
Transplant your shrubs once you notice their leaves falling out. Move your deciduous plants while they are dormant from November to mid-March so that they do not suffer much stress or trauma. Early spring is the best time to move your evergreen shrubs to another location. This allows them to re-establish their roots quickly.
Create a Compost Pile
If you don’t already have a compost pile, build or purchase a compost bin to set up a compost pile in your garden. The compost pile should be in an area where you can deposit all your organic waste. Doing this is essential because the pile will eventually break down into rich compost that is beneficial to your plants.
Add a Fresh Layer of Mulch
To bring out the aesthetic appeal of your garden, be sure to add a fresh layer of mulch around your new plants after planting them. This will give your garden a clean and tidy look. Adding a layer of mulch will also help your plants retain moisture and keep unwanted weeds at bay.
