It is almost time for spring to arrive. Indeed, you will soon find yourself caught up in a rush of seed sowing, plant growth, and garden-loving as your garden begins to come back to life. Organize your ideas now–during these last weeks of winter. That will give you a head start on the springtime garden season.
Check out our short but handy guide for the top tips on how to get your garden ready for the upcoming growing season!
5 Tasks to Tackle Before Planting Your Springtime Garden
Get these indoor and outdoor housekeeping chores completed first before you “dig in” to that fresh dirt.
1 – Maintain the appearance of your flower beds and borders before planting new things in your springtime garden.
Make a basic clean-up of your flower beds and borders. Remove any leaves or other debris that has accumulated in the area.
Remove all vegetation from the borders and beds, revealing the bare earth beneath the surface. Place the dead organic materials you have collected in your compost pile or bin. That will allow it to decay and breakdown more quickly. You must pull out emerging weeds now, too. Dispose of them in your garden garbage or in the fire pit if you notice them. You should avoid composting them because the seeds will germinate. They will only cause many problems in the future if you do.
Do not forget about the trees, however. If they have any loose limbs or if there is a significant overhang, bring in the tree care professionals to trim them. Besides improving the appearance of your yard and providing you with additional light in your home and possibly in your garden, you will increase safety.
2 – Make a clean sweep of your greenhouse.
Now is a great time to give your greenhouse a complete cleaning in preparation for spring seedlings and cuttings in the spring. To remove algae, moss, and other filth that has gathered outside your greenhouse, use white vinegar to clean the outside of the structure. Besides allowing for increased light penetration throughout the growing season, this eliminates breeding grounds for pests and disease.
Make sure to disinfect any cracks or gaps inside the glass as well. That’s because overwintering pests and diseases can thrive in even the tiniest cracks and crevices.
To remove any remaining plant material from the floor and benches, sweep them thoroughly and then wash them with a hot solution of a garden disinfectant such as Jeyes Fluid to remove any remaining plant material. Washing pots and seed trays will help prevent illnesses such as “damping off” from infecting your newly planted seeds or seedlings while they are germinating. It is critical that you adequately ventilate your greenhouse during the next few days to guarantee that it is entirely dry.
Immediately after you have finished cleaning and polishing your greenhouse structure, take the time to visually inspect the facility for any damage to the glass or vents and replace any broken components.
3 – Make sure your tools are clean and well-kept to enjoy your springtime garden without the hassle of maintenance issues.
Make sure to give your tools a thorough cleaning and sharpening during the winter months. Maintaining your garden equipment can help you keep in better shape. Thus, it will save money in the long term while also reducing the spread of disease in the garden. Using secateurs in an unsanitary setting is renowned for causing fresh pruning wounds to become infected with germs and fungi.
When cleaning bladed equipment, use a strong detergent, hot water, and a scourer to get them completely clean. It is also possible to boost the efficacy of your tools by sharpening them. Sharpened tools will be easier to handle and will create cleaner pruning cuts due to being pointed. After the blades and hinges have been sharpened, coat them with oil or WD40 to prevent further damage.
Hand tools, such as spades, hoes, trowels, and rakes, will benefit from your care. Give them a thorough cleaning and apply a few drops of oil to exposed metal parts. You will be ready for planting season once the soil warms.
4 – Give your outdoor furniture some tender loving care.
It is inevitable that your garden furniture. So whether it is made of plastic, wood, or wicker, you’ll need to do some maintenance over time. Warm soapy water and a sponge are necessary to rejuvenate the majority of plastics and vinyl. Anything constructed of wood may necessitate the use of additional aid. Initially, cleaning is required. A follow-up application of the appropriate wood oil will seal the surface and protect it from the elements.
5- Get rid of any pests and vermin that you may have.
Although you have taken the time to maintain your garden clean in order to prevent diseases from spreading across it, pests will still be drawn to your plants on occasion despite your best efforts. You might find the first early mosquitoes in standing water. Some species can be brushed aside, but others will necessitate the use of a specialized pesticide.
On her downtime, Shashika enjoys container gardening on her rooftop and shares her bounty with friends and neighbors.
