Spring Garden Preparation

As spring approaches, many of us may be feeling the itch to get outside and spruce up our gardens. However, with all of life’s demands it can be hard to keep up with the constant upkeep that gardening requires. Fortunately, there are a few simple tasks you can do each month to keep your garden in top shape! 

In March, it’s important to prune back dead foliage and any excess growth. Dead or damaged branches and stems should be cut away with sharp gardening shears or loppers so that new buds can flourish during the warmer months. If your plants were covered by blankets of snow during the winter season, they may need extra TLC this month to get them ready for a productive summer season. Now is also a good time to start removing weeds before they spread their seeds throughout your garden beds.

April brings milder temperatures and more sun which makes it ideal for fertilizing any plants that you planted last year. Many organic fertilizers come pre-mixed with everything you need for flowers and vegetables like phosphorus and potassium. Additionally, if you plan on starting any annuals from seed indoors then now is a great time to start that process as well. Finally, late April marks the perfect time for aerating your lawn since most grass species enter into an active growing period at this time of year.

During May, gardeners often experience much needed rain showers that allow them to really get outdoors and focus on getting their beds in order. It’s essential to stay on top of watering during this period in order for new growth not to suffer due to lack of moisture in the soil. Another chore many people enjoy is deadheading – or snipping off spent flower blossoms – which encourages additional blooming throughout the season. 

The following months bring increased temperatures but continue with regular maintenance such as weeding, fertilizing (as necessary), pruning away overgrowth and protecting your plants from pests and disease through natural deterrents like insecticidal soap sprays and slug traps filled with beer (yes beer!). Regular mowing also helps prevent weeds from taking over your lawn as well as providing space for beneficial organisms like earthworms and beetles which promote healthy soil conditions without needing chemicals or fertilizer additions from you! 

Keeping up with your garden’s maintenance throughout the year doesn’t have to be daunting or overly laborious when broken down into smaller monthly chunks! Allowing yourself small pockets of outdoor activity throughout each season will keep both you – and your garden – looking forward all year long!