How to Prepare Your Garden for Spring

Spring is coming soon. With this week's temperatures in the 70s and 80s, many are eager to get into the garden. Whether you're starting a new garden or refreshing an existing one, there are some tasks to add to your to-do list before spring starts.

Know Your Garden Zone

Research should be the first task on your list. The zones correlate to your geographical location and will not only inform when to plant, but also what to plant a certain crops and plants only thrive in certain zones.

Purchase and Start Seeds

Buying your seeds before spring gives you plenty of time to plan, which is important for successful planting. Each seed has different needs. Some should be started indoors, while others should be planted directly in the ground. If you have much to plan, create a calendar marking when to start or plant each seed.

Clean the Garden Beds

In fall and winter, your garden beds may be filled with leaves, debris, and weeds. Clean them out before spring to prepare for new growth. Removing weeds is crucial, especially before they produce seeds. If ignored, these seeds will wait until conditions are right to sprout. Some aggressive weeds can even choke out the plants you want to keep.

Remove dead parts from plants like hydrangeas, ornamental grasses, and woody perennials. Sometimes, woody perennials can grow back from their stems or roots after winter. To check, scratch a small area on the woody stems to see if there's any green. The same goes for hydrangeas.

Prepare Your Soil

Prepare your soil for spring by loosening it if it's compacted from winter. Start by turning it over until it's easy to work with. Then, test the soil to check the pH level for your plants. After you get the results, add fertilizers and other amendments as needed. If the soil is too acidic, you might need to add compost or other materials to balance the pH.

Lay Down Mulch

Mulch can be added at different times of the year, but right before spring is ideal. Starting in late winter helps you avoid damaging new bulbs and plants. Early mulching can also keep weeds from growing. When selecting mulch, choose ground mulch because it adds nutrients and breaks down well. Avoid chips and pine straw, as they do not decompose and won't improve your soil.

Prune Plants

Pruning some plants before spring is wise, especially to control seed spread. It helps manage size, encourage flowers and fruit, improve bark color, and remove unhealthy branches. You can prune summer-flowering shrubs while they’re dormant since they bloom on new growth. However, wait to prune spring-flowering shrubs until after they bloom to avoid losing their flowers.

Divide Perennials

If your plants have struggled to grow lately—showing stunted growth, a dead center, or flopping more than usual—think about dividing them before spring. Use a spading fork to lift them from the ground to loosen the roots. Cut the plant into three or four sections and replant them. You can place them back in the same spot, in different areas, or share them with a friend.

Check Your Gardening Tools

Check your gardening tools at the end of winter so you're ready for spring. Make a list of what you need, what needs cleaning, what needs sharpening, and what needs repairing. Clean your tools at least once a month to prevent the spread of bacteria and plant diseases.