Now that spring is finally here (almost in Canada), it’s time to get outside and get your garden ready for the summer. Your garden needs some help because while it does most of the work independently, a little TLC makes a difference. So pull out your tools, make a few trips to the home improvement store and get on your knee pads! While you’re at it, buy some cute new gardening shoes…it makes the whole experience just a little better.
Clean out the garden
This is perhaps the biggest yet most important job. Clean everything out, including leaves, weeds, old growth and old roots. Don’t worry about a soft touch; most plants are hardy and like being pulled back to the roots. This is always therapeutic for me. I grab and pull and chuck. It can be pretty active, so consider this your workout for the day!
Revitalize the soil
Soil loses moisture over the winter and becomes packed down. Turn the ground aggressively and add organic material like compost or manure. If you have finicky soil, consider what nutrients your soil needs. Provide the right fertilizer to enable a good growing environment.
I tried to avoid this step for many years and didn’t add fertilizer. While the plants lived and did “OK,” there is no comparison between plants that are given that extra nutrition. It is an essential step if you want your gardens to thrive.
Cut back old plants
Most plants must be pruned back to ensure they grow in the spring. Prune plants that grow in the Spring right after they bloom, and prune summer-blooming plants in late Spring but wait until the last frost is done.
For shrubs, remove dead, damaged and diseased branches from woody plants. Trim back summer blooming plants such as hydrangea and most roses. Prune cold-damaged wood after plants begin their spring growth.
Add mulch
Mulch helps prevent weeds and disease, and it also helps to hold moisture in your gardens. Consider adding a few inches to your garden and place it everywhere except a few inches directly around the plant stems to avoid root rot. It is the easiest thing you can do from a functional and aesthetic point of view for your garden. Mulch makes your gardens look fresh and finished.
This is one of my new favourite garden tricks. It costs a bit of money but saves you some time. It really does keep the soil moist longer, and those pesky weeds don’t grow as easily or quickly under the weight of mulch.
Plant new flowers and shrubs
Once the garden is clean and rid of old growth, you’re ready to think about adding new plants. Some good spring plants to consider include:
Tulips
Pansies
Snapdragons
Lilacs
Jackmanii Clematis
Blue Sage
Gingko Craig Hosta … Blue Sage
Tulips
Perennials are always a wise choice when planting because they re-grow for multiple years and typically withstand winters. Annuals, however, need to be purchased every year. They do add beautiful colour to your garden, though.
Clean Bird Feeders and Baths
If your yard is a gathering spot for birds, now is a great time to give your feeders a refresh. Clean them out thoroughly and dry them before refilling. Baths and feeders should be cleaned throughout the season. Even if you don’t have feathered friends, you can put out a saucer of water, which is typically enough to bring new visitors.
Gardening is one of my favourite pastimes, and while I don’t do it anymore at our house, I have thoroughly enjoyed doing the outdoor work at our cottage. I get a chance to be outside, my mind wanders free, and I typically burn a lot of calories because it’s very active work. Especially when I start using the whipper snipper and the blower. Both of those tools are quite heavy to carry around. I also find it incredibly fulfilling to see the outcome of my efforts.