11 Essential Spring Gardening Tips

If you still consider yourself a novice gardener, you’re probably not aware of all the tasks that you need to do during the year to keep your yard and garden healthy and thriving. As spring is coming up, you might be looking for some tips that will help you stay on track and have a successful year. With that in mind, here are some spring gardening essentials you shouldn’t overlook.

Inspect the yard

For starters, before you begin sprucing up your yard, you want to go through it and do a quick inspection. If you prefer, you can take a notepad with you and jot down which trees need to be pruned or removed, what you can toss into the compost piles, what you need to throw away, and if fences or pathways need to be fixed. That way, you can come up with a plan and know on which day you will be tackling what.

Wait until the conditions are right

Even with a plan, you don’t want to rush out if the conditions are not right. Bide your time as sunnier days are coming when you will be able to perform all tasks without any problems. For example, while the air temperature might be warm, the soil might still be frozen or too cold for germination. Moreover, if the soil is wet, that can also be an issue so wait for it to dry out after rain or snow.

Clean up the debris

Once the weather allows it, you can start by cleaning your garden and getting rid of various debris that might be left after the winter. From fallen leaves to leftover snow or salt that you used to melt the snow, there are plenty of chores to take care of. Moreover, if you notice any weeds, remove them from the root straight away to ensure they don’t pop up again.

Prepare the soil

No matter if you’re only taking care of your lawn or have a garden full of herbs and veggies, the soil you use is of the utmost importance for success. Therefore, you want to have the soil tested and see whether the pH levels are right and if it’s lacking any essential nutrients such as nitrogen or potassium. The results will show you in which ways you might need to amend the soil. What is more, you should also aerate the soil to relieve compaction and ensure there is plenty of oxygen for the roots.

Remember to fertilize

Regardless of what the test results show, you still want to apply fertilizer to the soil as it’s slowly waking up. Make sure to find a balanced fertilizer and follow the instructions on the packaging. However, you also don’t want to go overboard with fertilizer as it can lead to fertilizer burn and disrupt the roots’ intake of water. Besides fertilizer, you can also apply manure or compost.

Start making your compost

Spring is also a great time to start making your compost. Decide if you will use a compost bin or simply start a compost pile. Although composting can seem scary at first glance, don’t be afraid of this simple task. You just need to learn what can go into compost and what cannot. For starters, you want an equal amount of carbon-rich or brown materials and nitrogen-rich or green materials. Brown materials include straw and dried leaves while greens typically consist of weeds and grass clippings. Chopping these up into small pieces will help them decompose faster. Additionally, you can also add various leftovers and waste from your kitchen. Just remember to steer clear of animal products like meat and bones. Lastly, decide if you will have a hot pile or a cold pile compost, depending on which approach suits you better.

Go over your planting beds

You also want to inspect the planting beds and decide if you will be adding more. It’s easy to extend your garden if you think there is a need, so keep in mind that raised planter beds that can be moved around might be more efficient. Take some time to check if there are any gaps that make the space feel bare. You can fill these with any kind of plant you want if it will suit the conditions. You can plant from bare-root, transplant some container garden plants, or start from seeds, so pick the method you’re the most comfortable with. On the other hand, if you’re only taking care of your lawn, make sure to amend any bald patches you encounter.

Trim and prune plants

Besides adding new plants, you also want to trim and prune the existing plants. Start by removing all dead or damaged branches. You need to prune the plants that survived the cold winter in order for them to grow again in the spring but wait until late April or May to avoid unexpected frost. Thin and trim all shrubs that will bloom in the summer, such as most roses and hydrangea. Spring-blooming shrubs and trees should be pruned after they’ve flowered. For this, you will need some quality Hoselink equipment, such as shears, pruners, and secateurs.

Apply mulch

Something else you want to do in the spring is applying mulch. It will not only suppress weeds and retain moisture but also feed your soil over time if you opt for an organic type of mulch. Moreover, it will give your garden a clean look too.

Clean and prepare your tools

A chore you should not overlook, preferably before you start all other tasks, is cleaning your tools. Especially if they weren’t stored properly during the winter, your gear will need some attention. Sharpen your pruners, clean up your lawnmower and sharpen the blades, and apply linseed oil to wooden handles. Furthermore, check if you’re missing any essential tools and order them on time.

Refresh birdbaths and feeders

In case you’ve created a welcoming space for birds in your yard, you also want to spend some time refreshing it in the spring. Clean and disinfect the feeders before you refill them. Scrub and rinse the baths and make sure you change the water every week.

These eleven chores are just some of the essentials you need to keep in mind for spring. As each garden is different, you might also need to tackle some other, more unique tasks.