Spring is right around the corner, and the weather is already warming up. Now is the best time to pull on a sweatband, turn on “Eye of the Tiger,” and spruce up your garden and landscaping supplies for the upcoming season.
Of course, getting your garden ready for spring can be overwhelming when you’re not exactly sure where to start. That’s why we’ve put together this simple guide to make spring gardening maintenance a little less intimidating. Check out the gardening checklist below to give yourself some spring cleaning inspiration!
Clean up dead debris
Spring cleaning isn’t just for the home. Winter weather can kick up some serious debris in your garden over the course of the season. It’s important to make sure your flowers and shrubs have enough room to stretch out their stems once spring arrives. Pull on your gardening gloves to avoid touching anything that could hurt you like thorns or branches and remove any debris and dead organic matter from your garden. Once you’ve made your way to the bare soil, check for weeds and pull them out to keep them from competing with your flowers and other plants.
Get the soil ready
Once you’ve cleared away any debris, dead organic matter, and weeds, you can get started on enriching the soil for your plants and preparing your garden beds. You’ll want to start by loosening up the soil, which can become compacted during the colder months. If you don’t loosen up the soil, your plants won’t be able to strengthen their roots and may be at greater risk of dying. When the soil is loose, you can add nutrient-rich compose to boost the soil’s texture and moisture. Consider checking your soil’s pH and nutrient levels before composting to determine what type of compost would do the most good for your garden.
Prune your trees
If you have trees in your yard that you didn’t prune in the winter, early spring is the ideal time to do it. Trees at this time are still coming out of dormancy, which means pruning is less likely to impact their growth. Just make sure that you’re not over-pruning. Stick to removing only dead or broken branches that could impact the rest of the tree’s health.
Refresh your hardscaping
Landscaping can raise your property value by up to 12%, but plants and flowers are only one part of landscaping. To get your garden ready for spring, make sure you’re also checking up on your hardscaping. Clear any debris from paths and stonework, pick out any weeds, and check on your decking or patio for signs of needed repair. During a warmer day, consider pressure washing your stone paths to remove dirt and debris that may have accumulated during the winter. Refresh your garden edges with marble chips and other landscaping supplies .
Start your first wave of planting
During the early spring, some plants can be grown indoors to be planted outside later in the year. Vegetables such as potatoes, artichokes, snow peas, kale, radishes, and onions can also be planted now if you’re starting a vegetable garden. Be sure to give each plant plenty of room to root.
Perennials and bulbs can be planted now, too. Dig a hole at the right depth so that the crown is at the right soil level. If you’re not sure which part of the bulb is the crown, you can actually plant the bulb sideways. This may seem strange at first, but the top of the plant will eventually make its way to the surface on its own. Once you’ve planted the bulb, cover it with soil and compost before watering well. It’s important to make sure the soil is well-watered to allow the bulb’s roots to settle in.
Looking for landscaping supplies Gainesville gardeners can rely on for high quality during the spring season? We’ve got you covered. Gateway Home and Garden Center offers different types of landscaping materials Gainesville residents can use in their gardens or backyards to take their landscaping up a notch.
Whether you’re in the market for new annuals and perennials, pavers and stone to make a beautiful garden path, or landscaping rocks for visual interest, Gateway Home and Garden Center has what you need. For more information about our landscaping supplies and plants, contact us today.
