Spring has sprung and I can’t wait to get into the garden. I start thinking about what I want to plant and where, color schemes, and new plants I want to try. Before anything can get done in the garden, it must be prepared after the fall and winter seasons. Trust me, you will be glad that you did this. These are a few of my tried and true tips.
The very first thing that I do is give the flowerbeds, tools, and pots a good tidying up and cleaning. The windy winters can leave so much debris in the flowerbeds. I remove any twigs, branches, and extra leaves that have accumulated against the house. Weeds are sometimes already popping up and I remove any of those as well. In my flowerpots, I tend to only take soil out at the top especially if the pot is a big one. I check to see if the remaining soil looks fine to use again. If it does, I will just add a fresh layer on top. I check all of my tools and make sure that they are clean and ready to go for another season.
Spring is the perfect time to divide perennials and transplant shrubs. This year I have a spot that I want to fill with hostas and I am going to divide and transplant them. I always try to use what I already have to fill in other spaces. Shrubs can be a little more difficult to transplant and that is why spring is the time to tackle the project. The plants are small and that makes the job much easier.
I can’t tell you how long I spend coming up with a color scheme for my pots every year. It always involves a variation of pink. There are many great books out there or just browse the internet for ideas. For the last few years I have potted ferns in my bigger pots and they look gorgeous until the first freeze. My hanging baskets and other pots are filled with colorful plants. Pick a color and go for it!
The organization is key to gardening. I have a dedicated area in our garage for everything garden related. A cabinet holds everything for my pond, from the fish food to the bacteria that I add in. Another cabinet holds all of our fertilizers, flower and garden food, and insect sprays. I keep a shelf stocked with the tools and gloves that I use regularly. They are stored in a work bucket in a pouch so I can grab them easily.
This may seem like an odd one but a gardening journal can be so helpful. Sometimes I will forget by the next year if something thrived or did not do well in a certain area or pot. A few notes in a journal solve that problem. A journal is also a great place to plan out what you are going to plant and when.
A little more work now and you will be basking in the glory of beautiful gardens and pots. Planning is key. I hope you learned a new tip or two and that you enjoy a season of glorious flowers. I think I am going to head outside and get to some planning.
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