Spring Has Arrived — Here’s How to Wake Up Your Garden the Easy Way

Spring is starting to creep in across the country, with longer days and warmer weather, making it the perfect time to revive your garden. But without a plan, spring could sneak up on you, leaving your garden unprepared for the growing season.

Whether your dream garden is a beautiful flower oasis or a full vegetable garden, missing out on spring prep can be the difference between a lush oasis and a garden that struggles all summer long.

Starting Your Prep

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As lifelong gardeners, we wanted to help make a a quick and easy guide for how to prepare your garden for spring. Much of the advice comes from years of experience, but expert websites were consulted to add even more information for your prep.

It’s time to get our hands dirty and get our gardens off to a great spring start!

1. Take Stock and Clean Up Your Garden

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As the weather warms up, you’ll be itching to get out and start digging for the spring and summer garden. But wait! Hold off for just a little longer. First, you need to do a thorough cleanup of the garden.

Start by walking around, breathing in the spring fresh air, and just checking things out. Pull up a chair, sit in the sun, and figure out where to start! Here are just a few suggestions for cleaning the garden:

• Clean up all the winter debris: things like fallen tree branches, sticks, rocks, and whatever else is left over from winter
• Clean out the leftover leaves from the fall
• Rake off the beds
• Pull weeds
• Deadhead flowers (removing dead or dried flower heads) you left for the birds

2. Prune and Trim Your Plants

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Late winter to early spring is the perfect time to prune your plants, according to Monster Tree Service, before new growth begins. If you have fruit trees, pruning now encourages healthier growth and a more abundant harvest later in the season.

Trim back overgrown shrubs and shape your rose bushes to promote strong blooms. Don’t forget about your grapevines — pruning them properly helps improve fruit production and prevents disease.

Also, take a look at any perennials that may need a trim to encourage fresh, vibrant growth. Removing dead or damaged branches from any plant helps it thrive, improves airflow, and keeps your garden looking tidy.

3. Order Seeds and Bulbs

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While you may be itching to start planting outdoors, it’s still a little too soon in March when winter hasn’t settled yet. Now is a great time to start considering what you will be planting. Based on what you planted last year, does your garden need a bit of moving around (aka, crop rotation)? Or are you planning a redesign of your flower beds?

Spend some time in your catalogs looking for the best seed for your region. Then, order summer seeds and bulbs, such as the beautiful and sweet-smelling lily of the valley.

4. Prepare Garden Soil

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If you didn’t pull out your veggies at the end of last season, now is the time to get them out of there!

Once your beds are clear, it’s time to refresh the soil. Start by loosening it with a garden fork or tiller to improve aeration. Then, enrich it with compost — well-aged horse manure, aged kitchen scraps, or other organic matter all work wonders. As the spring rains come, nutrients will seep deeper into the soil, creating the perfect environment for strong, healthy plants.

For an extra boost, consider testing your soil’s pH and nutrient levels to ensure you’re giving your garden exactly what it needs for a thriving growing season!

5. Prepare Your Garden Tools

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It’s time to get your garden tools out of the storage shed and ensure they are in working condition. Some may need to be sharpened, some may need to be replaced, and some may even be missing.

Make a list of what tools you need for this garden season and take inventory. If you’re missing something, buy it now and be ready. It’ll give you time to shop around and order online if needed.

6. Divide Perennials

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This is the best time to divide your perennials. There are many reasons to divide your perennials. First, you’ll get more of the plants you love.

Other reasons include that the soil has lost its nutrients, and your plants are suffering; some weeds have made their home in the middle of your perennials’ roots, and blooming has just slowed down overall.

7. Plant Seeds Indoors for Plants That Need a Longer Growing Season

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Kickstart your garden by planting seeds indoors! It’s a rewarding way to get a head start on the season, especially when you’re eager to see some green while still stuck inside.

Tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants are great candidates for indoor starting, as they need extra time to establish before moving outdoors. Depending on your home’s temperature, a heated seedling tray can help provide the warmth needed for optimal germination. If you have a sunny windowsill or a grow light setup, that’s even better for giving your seedlings a strong, healthy start before transplanting them into your garden.

A little early effort now means stronger plants and an earlier harvest when spring fully arrives

8. Prepare Your Containers for Gardening

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If you’re a container gardener, now’s the perfect time to refresh your pots and planters for the new season. Start by emptying last year’s soil and removing any dried roots or debris. Giving your containers a quick cleaning helps prevent diseases and pests from carrying over to your new plants.

If any pots are cracked or worn out, consider replacing them or repurposing them for creative garden projects.

9. Create a Garden Planting Calendar

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Investing some time now will ensure your garden will be well planned, and you won’t scramble at the last minute to find a plant you want or need.

It will also save you some money if you plan your garden and shop accordingly. And, of course, your garden will be organized and not haphazardly planted at the last minute and without any thought.

Time to Get Planting

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Now that you know how to prepare your garden for spring, get out your garden planner and start planning! Don’t forget to enjoy the first blooms that come up in your yard unexpectedly, and nuture your garden so you have a great year with tons of growth this summer.