Spring Tips

Spring is a season of new beginnings, but it’s also can be a hit-or-miss season as the weather can fluctuate.  We endure wild weather fluctuations, so the gardener must always be prepared to shelter tender young plants until the true threat of frost has passed.  Here are some helpful tips for getting the garden read for spring:

1. Clean up and remove winter debris, twigs, and dead plant material that accumulated over the winter.  This helps to prevent the transmission of diseases and molds that could affect young plants.
2. Test your soil for pH and nutrient levels.  Amend the soil by adding organic matter such as compost.  For high pH plants (like tomatoes) – amend your soil with wood ash from fireplaces (note:  DO NOT amend the soil with any inorganic ash material). 
3. Prune and trim your perennials and woody plants.  Remove dead limbs.
4. Start planting your cold weather tolerant crops such as lettuces, spinach, kale, and sugar snap peas can be planted as soon as the ground is workable.
5. Apply a layer of mulch to garden beds to retain moisture and suppress inevitable week growth.  Mulching also helps to insulate the ground and keep the soil around tender young plants warmer.
6. Plant annuals suitable for the temperatures – pansies for the start of spring, and warmer weather plants such as coleus, and warm weather vegetable plants as the season progresses.