Do you find yourself arriving in February ready for Spring blooms? ME TOO! I’m ready to get my garden started, but alas when I woke up this morning it was only 28 degrees. The Spring itch has started, but the weather outside isn’t cooperating. Don’t despair, we have a few things that can help you get started as you start getting that garden ready!
Subscribe to some seed magazines to spark your creativity! Ann told me about Territorial Seed and I get their catalog about this time every month and it makes me happy to flip through it. This is a great time to start deciding what to grow. Choose plants that are suitable for your climate and the amount of sunlight available in your chosen location. I’m not always the best at ensuring things will really grow in the garden and often I’ll plant too many things or put them too close together. Yes, I’m a bit of a lazy gardener. This is a great time to actually plan ahead so you don’t do that!
Here are a few things you can do RIGHT NOW to get your garden Spring ready
- You can start getting the garden ready by cleaning up debris. Remove any debris, such as dead leaves, plants, and branches, from the garden. This will help prevent disease and pest problems in the spring.
- Prune trees and shrubs: Prune any dead, damaged, or diseased branches from trees and shrubs. This will help improve the plants’ health and appearance.
- Test soil: Test the soil to determine its nutrient content and pH level. Based on the test results, you can amend the soil as needed to ensure optimal growing conditions for your plants.
- Add organic matter: Add organic matter, such as compost, manure, or shredded leaves, to the soil. This will help improve soil structure, fertility, and moisture retention.
- Mulch: Apply a layer of mulch to the soil to help retain moisture and suppress weed growth. You can use materials such as leaves, straw, or bark chips.
- Plan your garden: Use the winter months to plan your garden for the upcoming season. Determine what plants you want to grow, where to plant them, and when to plant them.
- Repair and clean tools: Clean and repair your gardening tools so that they are ready for use in the spring. Sharpen your pruners and loppers, oil your shovels and spades, and replace any broken or damaged tools.
Get Your Kids Involved
I love gardening with my kids and the excitement that they have over watching things grow. Take the time to invite your kids to be part of the planning process. My kids always choose their fave things to plant and eat. We always try to keep it to actual things we will eat.
Switch Up Your Decor
I think it could be fun to also start planning a few ways to add some décor to the garden or surrounding areas. We love the garden post lights we have that just add a little touch of light to the garden area when it’s dark out. Here are a few of my fave ideas for lights.
These are such cute little solar garden lights! I love that they are in both white and colored.
Photo Credit: https: Light in the Box
There is also a roundup of solar lights if you are looking to see which ones rated best!
You can also take some LED string lights and add them to a cute decoration!
Photo Credit: wayfair
What To Plant
Once you have your garden prepped, those amazing seed catalogs in your hands, it is time to start making a plan for what to plant. Here are my favorites!
- Strawberries – We love growing strawberries! They are so fun and super delicious.
- Tomatoes – Tomatoes are easy to grow and provide a nutritious, tangy snack or addition to salads.
- Carrots – Carrots are ideal for growing in containers on patios or balconies, as they require just 6 inches of soil depth and take only 70–80 days to harvest.
- Lettuce – Plant lettuce seeds every two weeks throughout springtime, so that you get to enjoy multiple harvests during the season.
- Cucumbers – Cucumbers love moisture and can easily be grown directly from seed outdoors starting late May-early June!
- Squash – Squash requires plenty of sunlight and well-drained soil with an even pH level for optimal growth.
- Beans – Green beans are popular favorites amongst home gardeners due to their versatility in cooking (and their insistence on not climbing trees).
- Spinach – Spinach is packed full of vitamins A & K and doesn’t require much space — just 4 inches between each plant — so it’s perfect for small plots or even window boxes!
- Corn – Corn is super fun to watch grow. This past year we planted popcorn and it was super fun to watch the different varieties.
Tips to Get Started
If you are ready to jump on the gardening band wagon, here are the best beginner gardening tips!
- Plan Your Garden – Take some time to design the layout of your garden and plan what plants you want to include before you buy any supplies or start digging.
- Choose the Right Location – Make sure the area you choose gets enough sun throughout the day, but isn’t overly exposed (unless desired). Also consider nearby trees, shrubs and wind protection.
- Loosen Soil – To ensure optimal drainage and air circulation for growing plants, you’ll need to loosen up the soil with a shovel or hoe before planting anything.
- Pile on Compost or Manure – Adding organic matter such as compost or aged manure will help improve soil quality over time by providing essential nutrients for plants and assisting with moisture retention.
- Pick Plants You Love – One of the best parts about gardening is choosing which vegetables, herbs or flowers to grow! Don’t be afraid to experiment with varieties that look interesting or have unique flavors (like purple carrots!).
- Keep Seeds Properly Stored – Storing seeds in airtight containers in a cool, dark place helps preserve their viability so they’re more likely to germinate when planted in the springtime!
- Water Evenly & Consistently – For most vegetable plants, aim for 1-2 inches of water per week during hot months — either directly from rain showers or manually via watering can/hose — making sure not to over saturate the soil as this can lead to root rot and disease-prone plants.
- Weed & Prune Regularly – Keep weeds at bay by hand-removing them as soon as they appear (or use mulch!) and pruning any unruly branches from trees/shrubs so that sunlight can reach all sides evenly throughout the garden plot! 9) Fertilize Strategically – Fertilizing is essential for ensuring healthy growth of plants in your garden; however, depending on your location it may not always be necessary (as natural sources of nitrogen like legumes can provide adequate sustenance). Determine which type of fertilizer best suits your garden’s needs before applying it!
Raise your hand if you are ready for Spring!
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