Spring has sprung in the garden, bringing with it critical chores to do to prepare for summer. Here’s a spring checklist of things to do in the garden to make sure your plants are happy and healthy all summer long – and into the colder months.
Depending on where you live, water may have compacted your garden soil over the winter. Use a spading fork to turn the soil, then even it out with a rake. Good soil is the key to happy plants, and this is the time of year to amend your garden soil. To know what to add – compost, fertilizer, peat moss, vermiculite, or other materials – test your soil using a home test kit.
2. Set up plant supports
For vegetables that are happier growing up than out (think tomatoes and beans), make sure they have proper supports and enough room to spread out – and that they don’t crowd your other plants. For real climbers, make sure you have a trellis system; use bamboo or other stakes for plants like peppers, which don’t need to climb, but need to be held up. Tip: Inexpensive Velcro tape can help attach plants and can be removed easily.
3. Sow heat-loving seeds and plants
Stagger your heat tolerant lettuce and spinach seeds every other week so your garden is producing enough for salads all the time. Other heat-lovers include peppers, eggplants, tomatoes and basil. Make sure to weed out plants that have “bolted” – or grown too tall and flowered. Depending on where you live, also plant cold-loving veggies like onions, potatoes, artichokes and squash, so they’re ready when you want them in the fall.
4. Prune what you missed
If you didn’t trim your fruit trees in the winter, prune them now pruning shears before the buds begin to break into bloom. Otherwise, the tree can get stressed and yield little – or no – fruit.
5. Bring out your seedlings
By now, seeds started indoors should be nice young sprouts. Depending on where you live, you might be bringing them out for the first time now. Remember to harden them off. Strong spring sunlight will burn young sprouts and changing temperatures will shock them. Bring them out for just a few hours each day and allow them to stay longer and longer before you transplant them into the garden.
Registration permits you to participate in all areas of this site. By submitting your information above, you agree that the information you provide will be governed by our site's <a href="/privacy" target="_blank">Privacy Policy</a>.
Registration permits you to participate in all areas of this site. By submitting your information above, you agree that the information you provide will be governed by our site's <a href="/privacy" target="_blank">Privacy Policy</a>.
Registration permits you to participate in all areas of this site. By submitting your information above, you agree that the information you provide will be governed by our site's <a href="/privacy" target="_blank">Privacy Policy</a>.
{* /socialRegistrationForm *}
You are Now Registered!
We will send you an email to confirm your registration.
Welcome!
Get savings now and don’t forget to look for our email newsletters with seasonal allergy tips and alerts for our biggest savings.
Please fill-in the information below. Already have an account? <a href="/%23" data-capturescreen="signIn">Sign In</a>
Link an existing account:
{* loginWidget *}
Or create an account by providing the information below.
Registration permits you to participate in all areas of this site. By submitting your information above, you agree that the information you provide will be governed by our site's <a href="/privacy" target="_blank">Privacy Policy</a>.
Registration permits you to participate in all areas of this site. By submitting your information above, you agree that the information you provide will be governed by our site's @privacy_policy.
Looks like you have an existing account with us. We have made some changes to our site and we need you to create a new password in order to login. Click send to recieve an email with instructions on how to create your new password.
All Fields required, unless otherwise indicated
{* #socialRegistrationForm *}Registration permits you to participate in all areas of this site. By submitting your information above, you agree that the information you provide will be governed by our site's <a href="/privacy" target="_blank">Privacy Policy</a>.