10 Steps to Get Your Garden Ready For Spring
Spring is the perfect time to get your garden ready for the warmer season. With these 10 easy steps, you can have your garden looking beautiful and prepared to take on whatever Spring has in store. Learn how to assess soil conditions, plant flower beds, maintain a healthy lawn, and more!
Introduction
As the weather starts to warm up and the days get longer, it’s time to start thinking about prepping your garden for spring. Here are a few simple steps to get your garden ready for spring:
- Remove any dead plants or debris from your garden. This will help prevent pests from taking hold in your garden.
- Prune any overgrown plants. This will help encourage new growth and make sure your plants have the space they need to flourish.
- Add some fresh compost to your garden beds. This will provide essential nutrients for your plants as they start to grow.
- Start planting some spring flowers and vegetables. Be sure to check your local frost dates so you don’t plant too early and risk losing your plants to a late frost.
By following these simple steps, you’ll be well on your way to having a beautiful, productive spring garden!
Step 1: Clean Up Garden Beds
As the weather warms up and the days begin to get longer, it’s time to start thinking about getting your garden ready for Spring. Prepping your garden for the Spring season doesn’t have to be a daunting task – with a little bit of planning and some elbow grease, you can get your garden beds looking their best in no time. Here are the steps you need to take to clean up your garden beds and get them ready for spring planting:
- Start by removing all debris from your garden beds, including dead leaves, sticks, and any other organic matter that may have accumulated over the winter months. Be sure to dispose of this debris properly so that it doesn’t end up back in your beds.
- Next, turn over the soil in your beds using a shovel or spade. This will help to aerate the soil and allow new roots to penetrate more easily.
- Once the soil is turned, add a layer of compost or manure to help enrich it. This will give your plants a boost when they start growing in the spring.
- Finally, rake the bed smooth so that it’s ready for planting. You can also add mulch at this point to help retain moisture and suppress weeds.
Step 2: Check Your Soil pH
If your garden’s soil is too acidic or too alkaline, it can make it difficult for plants to absorb nutrients. The first step in prepping your garden for spring is to test your soil’s pH and adjust it if necessary.
To test your soil’s pH, you’ll need a soil test kit. These can be purchased at most garden stores or online. Once you have your kit, follow the instructions to collect a sample of your soil and send it off to be tested.
Once you have your results, you can determine whether your soil is too acidic, too alkaline, or just right. If it’s too acidic, you’ll need to add some lime to raise the pH. If it’s too alkaline, you’ll need to add some sulphur to lower the pH.
Making these adjustments may seem like a lot of work, but it’s important to do if you want your plants to thrive. Soil that’s out of balance can lead to all sorts of problems, including nutrient deficiencies and poor plant growth.
Step 3: Add Nutrients To Your Soil
If your soil is lacking in nutrients, now is the time to add them. A simple way to do this is to add compost or manure to your soil. You can also use organic fertilisers, such as bone meal or blood meal. You can use synthetic fertilisers if you want to go the chemical route. Just be sure to follow the directions on the package.
Step 4: Prune & Trim Trees & Shrubs
As the weather begins to warm up and the days start getting longer, it’s time to start thinking about prepping your garden for spring. One of the most important steps in getting your garden ready for spring is pruning and trimming trees and shrubs.
Pruning helps stimulate new growth and can also help shape plants. It’s important to prune early in the season before new growth begins. For most plants, the best time to prune is late winter or early spring.
To prune, simply remove any dead or diseased branches. You can also selectively remove branches to thin out the plant or to shape it. When trimming shrubs, it’s best to make cuts just above a set of leaves or buds. This will help encourage new growth.
After you’ve finished pruning, it’s time to start fertilising your plants. A good general-purpose fertiliser will do the trick. Be sure to follow the directions on the package so you don’t over-fertilise your plants.
With a little bit of care and attention, you can get your garden ready for a beautiful spring season!
Step 5: Plan Out Your Plantings
One of the most important steps in prepping your garden for spring is to plan out your plantings. This will ensure that you have a beautiful and bountiful garden come harvest time.
To start, you’ll need to choose what plants, vegetables, fruits, and herbs you’d like to grow. Once you’ve made your selections, it’s time to start planning out your planting schedule. You’ll need to take into account the average first frost date in your area, as well as the expected maturity dates of your chosen plants.
Once you have a planting schedule worked out, it’s time to start thinking about where you’ll plant each crop. Make sure to leave enough space between each type of plant, as well as between each individual plant. This will give them room to grow and thrive.
Finally, don’t forget to add some flowers to your garden! They’ll not only add beauty, but can also attract beneficial pollinators like bees and butterflies. With a little planning and effort, you can have a gorgeous spring garden that’s ready for summertime.
Step 6: Prepare Your Perennials For Spring
Assuming your perennials are already planted, there are a few key things you can do to prepare them for spring:
Cut back any dead or dying foliage from the previous year. This will help encourage new growth.
Apply a layer of mulch around the base of each plant. This will help retain moisture and keep weeds at bay.
If you haven’t already done so, fertilise your plants. This will give them a boost of nutrients to help them thrive in the coming season.
Finally, make sure they are getting enough water. Regular watering, even before signs of new growth appear, is essential for healthy plants.
Step 7: Start Seeds Indoors
Start Seeds Indoors:
If you want to get a jump on the growing season, start your seeds indoors. This will give your plants a head start on the competition and help you get a bountiful harvest come summertime. Here are some tips for starting your seeds indoors:
Choose the right containers for your garden ready for spring.
Seedlings need room to grow, so choose pots or trays that are at least 3 inches deep. You can also use recycled materials like egg cartons or toilet paper rolls. Just make sure to punch drainage holes in the bottom of whatever container you use. Link to seed trays and pots.
Fill your containers with a quality seed-starting mix.
This mix is specially formulated to provide the perfect environment for young seedlings. You can find it in store or online here is the link.
Sow your seeds according to package directions.
Make sure to plant them at the correct depth and keep the soil moist but not wet.
Place your containers in a warm, sunny spot.
A south-facing window is ideal, but you can also use grow lights if necessary. Keep an eye on the temperature, as too much heat can damage delicate seedlings.
Once your seedlings emerge, thin them out so that only the strongest plants remain. Transplant them into larger pots or directly into the garden when they are big enough to handle.
Step 8: Mulch After Planting
After you have planted your garden, it is important to mulch it. Mulching helps to keep the soil moist, prevents weeds from growing, and adds nutrients to the soil. There are many different types of mulch available, so you can choose one that best suits your needs. Once you have spread the mulch, be sure to water it well.
Conclusion – 10 Steps to Get Your Garden Ready For Spring
Now that you have a list of 10 steps for prepping your garden ready for spring, you can start making plans to get the most out of your outdoor space this upcoming season. With proper planning and preparation, your garden will be ready to burst with life when warmer weather arrives.
From mulching and pruning to planting seeds and composting, each task will bring you one step closer to having a beautiful garden full of vibrant colours and fresh scents. So take some time now to get your garden ready for spring, if you need any advice or have any questions from the Porton Garden Aquatics & Pets team, you can contact in-store or via the website; we’d be happy to help.
