Ready for Spring: 6 Ways to Prep Your Garden for Planting Season

This time of the year, I often think that winter will never end. And every year, I am pleasantly relieved that spring does indeed come. So what can we do to get our gardens ready for the nice weather? Here are some tips to bide the time and fill the last days of winter.

1. Plan ahead.

Start thinking about any new garden beds you would like to install or additions you would like to make in old beds. Start looking for—and resourcing where you can buy—the plants you want to use. Many nurseries are giving free talks this time of the year to help with plant selection and planning. See if your favorite nursery offers this. A lot of seed catalogs are being sent in the mail now too. Look there for ideas and maybe even make a purchase!

2. Check your tools.

Every gardener has at least a few tools. Right before spring, when it is still too early to get into the garden, check and evaluate your tools to get in the spirit of what is to soon be here. Clean any leftover dirt off of them, make sure nothing is broken, oil any moving parts that might need it, and, most important, sharpen them—especially pruners and shovels.

3. Clean up.

On the first nice day, I am ready to get to work. It is time to pick up any sticks, leaves, or annual plants that might have accumulated during the winter or are still left over from summer.

• When removing leaves, try to look for cocoons that resemble leaves and insect eggs or nests. Many beneficial pollinators overwinter here.
• Be careful to not walk in your garden if the beds are moist because you can cause compaction and damage to the soil if not careful. Also, look out for any plants that have sprouted tips. 
• Remove any leftover annual debris. This is not the type of compost you want because it can attract pests and disease.
• The next thing I like to do is trim back ornamental grasses to 4–6 inches. You should trim these plants back first so that the emerging tips that you cannot always see do not get nicked.

4. Turn over the soil.

One of the most important parts of the garden is the soil. Now is the time to turn over the soil to freshen it up and add some oxygen with a pitchfork. Get a soil test if you have not done one for a few years or ever. You can do this through your local Extension Office or a local nursery. Now is also the time to add some compost from your own pile or purchase it. Again, be very careful to not compact the soil or step on baby plants.

5. Cut back.

For this task, I like to wait until the day temperature reaches a consistent fifty degrees. This is to give any beneficial insects that overwinter in the hollow stems a chance to emerge. If you can’t wait until the days are fifty degrees, try to cut the plants back and either leave the stems in the garden bed, laying loosely on top of the compost pile, or bundle ten stems or so together and lean them up against something.

Now is also the time to prune woody perennials. You should also prune any branches that were damaged in the winter on shrubs and trees. Also prune to shape these shrubs and trees. Some woody perennials, shrubs, and trees—such as certain hydrangeas and magnolias—bloom on last year’s wood and some on new growth. So, be familiar with your plant and where it blooms before pruning.

6. Mulch. 

The last garden chore is to mulch. Wait until insects have fully emerged because the mulch can block their ability to break through. Cleaning up your garden beds should not destroy anything. 

Spring will be here before we know it, so hang tight! And in the meantime, have fun, clean with intention, and enjoy.