As your garden starts waking up in spring, it’s time to start planting, pruning, and prepping for the growing season ahead.
You can use the same approach to get your garden ready for warmer months as you would to give your home an extensive spring cleaning. This spring gardening checklist will help you tackle all of your outdoor chores like a professional. This spring gardening checklist is divided into three sections: early, mid, and late tasks. It will help you to pace yourself while you prepare your flowerbeds and garden areas for the growing seasons. You’ll have a better chance of hitting each part of your landscape before the summer.
Early Spring
Although the first day of spring officially falls in March, many gardeners use the weather as a guide to determine when spring has begun. If you live in an area with a cold climate, early spring is when the temperatures start to rise and remain above freezing. In temperate areas, plants are about to emerge from dormancy in the spring but have not yet started growing.
1. Flowerbeds should be cleaned.
Remove any dead leaves and other winter debris that may have accumulated on the soil surface where you plan to plant annual vegetables or flowers. Cut back the dried leaves from last year and remove winter mulch around ornamental grasses and perennials. Hedge trimmers are great for giving grass clumps an even, clean look. Wear gardening gloves to protect yourself from scrapes and cuts, especially when you are working with plants that have prickly foliage.
2. Divide perennials.
It is best to divide perennials just before the spring growth starts. Divide perennials to increase the number of plants in your garden or to give extras to friends. This also helps to keep your perennials healthy. If your plants are arranged in a large group, they can become thinned out over time, leaving an empty spot. Dividing a clump can encourage new growth.
3. Mulch perennials.
Mulch around your garden beds is one of the easiest and quickest ways to improve the appearance of your yard. It also helps to retain moisture in the soil and keep weeds at bay. You may need more mulch to cover your bed than you thought, so buy more than you expect. Spread mulch evenly using a rake or gloved hands. Be careful not to apply it too thickly, or too close to plants. This can lead to diseases. Keep the mulch at a level to help it remain in place when there are heavy rains or winds. Replace mulch with river stones if your downspouts wash it away.
4. Pruning trees and shrubs.
Now is the perfect time to trim fruit trees if you did not prune them in winter. You should prune before the buds start to bloom. Otherwise, you will stress the tree. It may produce a small crop or none at all. Pruning evergreen shrubs and trees is also a great time.
5. Maintain your hardscaping by performing basic maintenance.
Check for frost heaves in stonework, especially along paths and edges. Make any necessary repairs to your patio or deck. Cleaning outdoor furniture will make it ready for you to relax on after a long day in the garden.
6. Plant your vegetables.
Hardy, cool-season vegetables, like potatoes, artichokes, peas, and some lettuces, germinate best in cool soil, so plant them in early spring, once the soil has thawed. They should be ready to harvest by early summer.
Mid Spring
As you approach the halfway point of the season, your springscape should begin to take shape as more and perennials, trees, shrubs and bulbs start growing and possibly blooming. After the majority of the cleaning is done, you can start adding new plants.
1. Clean bird feeders.
Some people prefer to remove their feeders for birds and store them until the fall. You can wash and empty them now if you plan to keep them up all year. Fill your feeders up with new seed.
2. Take notes while you watch the spring shows.
Some spring bulbs will be in bloom. Take note of the empty spaces where you can plant bulbs in the fall.
3. Plant perennials, and hardy annuals.
For new perennials, it is important to give them some time before the summer heat hits. Add some cool-season annuals to your garden, such as pansies and snappedragons. These flowers also look great in pots to brighten up your porch.
4. Add new shrubs and trees.
Plant as soon the ground no longer freezes. You should plant as soon as the ground is no longer frozen. This will give your shrubs and trees time to develop new roots before the temperatures rise.
5. Apply fresh mulch.
Mulch your plants after you finish planting. Mulch now before weeds sprout. You’ll need to do little or no weeding in the summer.
Late Spring
You can begin cleaning flowers in late spring. You can also start planting to fill your garden.
1. Cut back flowering bulbs.
Remove spent flowers on spring-flowering bulbs. This encourages plants to store their energy rather than use it to produce seeds. Allow the foliage to die on its own and wait until it is completely yellowed or dried out before you remove it.
2. Summer annuals are available.
Choose flats with your summer annuals favorites, such as petunias impatiens and Zinnias. Plants that haven’t bloomed yet will be stronger.
3. Warm-season vegetables should be started.
While harvesting your radishes or lettuces that you planted in early spring, you could plant seedlings for warm-season crops like tomatoes, peppers and herbs.
4. Plant summer-blooming bulbs.
Spring-blooming bulb should be planted during the fall. Summer-blooming ones, such as dahlias or gladiolus should be planted when there is no threat of frost. You can use the average last frost date in your area to get a good idea when you should plant the bulbs. Then, once the soil is warm enough, it’s time to put them into the ground.
This spring gardening checklist will help you create the most beautiful yard on the block. There are tasks you need to do each season. But if you tackle these early in the season, you will have more time this summer to relax and enjoy your landscaping.
Original Blog: https://www.bhg.com/gardening/yard/garden-care/spring-gardening-checklist/
