Spring is here and it's time to get busy in your garden! From cleaning to garden planning, we have all the information you need to prepare your garden for the season.
If you're new to gardening and want to know how to start your garden, click here!
Clean and Cut
Just like your house, your garden also needs spring cleaning.
Take the time to clean up your garden. Get rid of the dead plants and debris to set yourself up for a great season of bountiful harvests!
To start with:
chop down and clear out old plants and leaves
Get rid of diseased plants, (mostly tomato plants) and throw them in the trash. Do not compost them! You may spread disease to your other plants.
Clean up your trellises and prepare them for use.
thoroughly weed your garden.
Preparation
After cleaning, it's time to focus on your soil. Here's what you need to do:
Top off your beds or containers with fresh compost, but always make sure to test it first.
Mulch your garden to retain water and nutrients, protect the soil, and suppress weeds.
Organize and Plan
Now that you're done cleaning and prepping your garden, it's time to get organized and plan for success during gardening season.
Gather all your tools, seeds, etc., and ensure everything is in working order.
Keep an eye on the weather, as it can affect when you plant. Plan your garden layout and set up trellises.
Make sure to leave enough space for plants, as overplanting can lead to a smaller harvest and less vigorous plants.
Companion planting is a great way to plan your garden. Consider planning for succession planting, as many crops will produce and bolt before the season is over, leaving space and time to plant other things.
Plan for pests by using row cover or insect netting, planting natural traps (such as nasturtiums for aphids), interplanting crops, planting pest-deterrent crops like marigolds, nasturtium, and herbs, and attracting beneficial insects and animals.
Finally, organic pesticides are great to have on hand, remember to do research before using any pesticides to avoid any issues in your garden.
Click here to find out natural ways to deal with weeds and pests naturally!
Once you have completed all these steps, you will be ready to start planting in the spring!
But don't worry if you can't complete all of them, as you can still have a thriving garden. Gardening is all about having fun, so enjoy your gardening season!