Spring Planting Tips

Start simple!  One of the worst things that could happen is to plant an amazing garden and then not be able to maintain it.  Start with a small garden and containers and when you’re comfortable, grow.  Add more flowers when you know you have the time and interest to take care of them.  You’ll get new and more exciting ideas as time goes on.  

Pick the right plants.  Do some research and study what your area is like.  Jot down what areas around your yard get what kind of sunlight.  This will help you determine which type of plants will thrive around your home.  Take note of where your water access is.  Place plants in an area that is easily accessible to water; whether that is from a sprinkler system or by hand watering with a hose.  Daylilies typically are a great choice.  They’re mostly pest resistant and are a fairly no fuss perennial.

Off with their heads!  By which I mean deadheading, of course!  Deadheading can be a boring task but it certainly pays off.  Deadhead your plants to maintain their beauty in your garden and containers.  This will also help promote extra bud bloom on some plants.  Deadheading also prevents the spread of plants as many heads are full of seeds which drop after they have dried out. 

Spread 1-2 inches of mulch over your garden bed.  This may seem silly, but it will help stop the growth of weeds and help your soil retain its moisture on hot days; requiring you to water less.  An organic mulch such as shredded bark will also help add nutrients to the soil as it decomposes (a natural compost.)

Start a garden journal.  Take notes on weather conditions each month.  You can keep notes on what plants you put in garden beds and containers each year; what you liked and didn’t like.  This is a great spot to make notes about new ideas for next year.  Take lots of pictures throughout the gardening season so you have record of how your beds looked at different times. 

Edged beds look sharp.  Whether you use a paver stone or a plastic edging, it makes a garden look complete.  You’ll want to put the edging a few inches into the ground to prevent grass roots from creeping under the edging and into your garden.  You put all of that hard work into the garden to have it be taken over by grass!  A new trend in edging is to have edging that lays flat with the grass, so a lawn mower can go right over the top.  No need to go along with a weed whacker to get a clean edge!

Raised beds have become very popular over the last couple years.  If you’re planning on putting one in, make sure that it is small enough so that you can reach all areas from both sides.  Raised beds help to save your back and knees as well.  Fill your raised beds with a mixture of compost and top soil for the perfect growing conditions.  A raised bed also drains better than a traditional ground bed and they warm faster in the spring so you can get an earlier start!

Get rid of weeds before they get out of control!  Baby weeds are easier to completely remove from the ground.  Another plus of pulling those weeds early, you’ll prevent the reproduction of the weed.  A quick walk around your gardens every few days will work wonders. 

Have you tried using a soaker hose before?  If you have the hose availability for a soaker hose, they’re certainly worth the effort!  They help you save time, energy and money spent on watering.  Water seeps out of the length of the hose which is set within your gardens.  You’ll want to cover the hose with mulch to cover an unattractive hose and to prevent water from evaporating before reaching the ground.  Drip irrigation systems are also a great option for container gardens which tend to dry out faster.

Compost! As we blogged about a couple of weeks ago, compost is an integral part of your garden.  Soil with compost in it has improved drainage and breathes better than soil without.  Save on trash costs and start composting!  Learn how from our Compost in a Weekend post.