Spring is in the air! The warmer temperatures and longer days often mean more time outdoors. Why not spend that time preparing your garden for the season? There are steps you can take to ensure you have a healthy, thriving outdoor space:
Plant Annuals Early in the Season
While it may be tempting to wait until Mother's Day before you start planting annuals, Laura Janney, the CEO of the Inspired Garden, says you will miss out on gorgeous flowers and color in the process. Her recommendation? Start planting earlier in the season.
"There isn’t much going on early in the season, so invest a few hours to plant some cheerful spring annuals. While everything is waking up from the winter, you will get to enjoy vibrant blooms all season long," Janney explains.
Cut Back Dead Branches and Foliage
While planting and admiring flowers may be the fun part of gardening season, it's just as important to take care of maintenance beforehand, such as pruning and removing dead branches and unwanted foliage. This way, your gorgeous blooms won't end up overrun.
Janney recommends going around and cutting back any dead branches from perennials and ornamental grasses.
"Taking the time will help your plants thrive and reduce the risk of disease," Janney says.
Do Your Research and Make a Plan
Even if you love to garden, it's easy to get ahead of yourself when deciding what to plant and when. Janney states that every year, she notices on the first warm day of spring, people run out to the nursery and buy a bunch of plants in their excitement for the season.
Unfortunately, doing this often results in buying plants that don't go well together, aren't in the right conditions for their garden, or are unsure of where to put them.
"Take the time and really assess your garden and what you need," Janney says. "See if anything has changed since last spring (for example, a neighbor cutting down a tree or branches or renovations that may have redirected water)."
Keep Gardening Tools Clean and Sterile
Your plants aren't the only aspects of gardening to keep in mind this season. Your gardening tools also deserve your attention and, according to Tammy Sons, the CEO of TN Nursery, a thorough cleaning/sterilizing before using them.
"Clean tools will help prevent any diseases from spreading and make pruning easier," Sons says.
Even if you're certain all your plants are healthy, still strive to clean your tools before switching to the next plant, just in case there are some early signs of disease you may not notice.
Check Your Soil
Since your soil is where your plants receive most of their nutrients, ensuring that your soil pH is balanced is essential.
"The first, most crucial part of achieving a perfect spring garden is to make one hundred percent sure your soil is ready to go beforehand," Sons explains. "By knowing the pH and nutrient levels, this will save you time and money when the moment comes to start planting."
If you're unsure about your soil pH levels, there are ways to find out with or without a testing kit. The more balanced your soil is, the more likely it is to thrive.
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While it may take a little planning and a lot of hard work, the results will be worth it. You can have a garden to be proud of and enjoy spending time in all summer long!