How To Get Your Garden Ready for Spring

Doesn’t it seem like warmer weather is just around the corner? While it may be too early to plant your favorite spring flowers, you can prepare your garden now to take care of those sometimes neglected or overlooked tasks. These chores may not offer the same reward as a full array of bright red flowers lining your driveway, but they can make all the difference in the success of your garden this spring. Here are some helpful tips to ensure a lush garden when you are ready to plant.

Gather Your Tools

Most homeowners do not think about cleaning and organizing their gardening supplies after the growing season ends, but imagine how much more enjoyable your planting can be if you have everything you need in tip-top shape. Late winter or early spring is a fantastic time to replace your gardening gloves; sharpen your shears or clippers; and clean your shovels, rakes, and hoes. Stock up on soil and fertilizers while cleaning up your gardening tools, and you should be good to go.

Test Your Soil

Winter, with its lovely frozen precipitation or cold rain, has the knack of compressing your soil. Planting all types of flowers and vegetables may not be so easy if you must first break apart clumps of dirt. Why not take the time now to loosen your soil and test it for a good balance of nutrients and the right pH level? You may need to incorporate new soil or add compost and other organic materials to replenish the minerals and elements that help plants thrive. Your flowers and veggies will thank you for your efforts.

Make Your Beds

Is there anything more exciting than cleaning up your beds when winter is almost over? Okay, maybe your idea of a good time is not pulling up dead annuals, removing branches, cutting back or dividing perennials, and trimming ornamental grasses, but you’ll be glad you did when you see gorgeous green plants and vibrant pink flowers filling in those beds in a month or two. While you are at it, shape up your trees and prune your shrubs for even, healthy growth.

Design Your Layout

Another reason gardening is so satisfying is that every year you can redesign your landscaping. Maybe this year you want to forego bold colors in favor of elegant white flowers, or perhaps you can focus on local plants and wildflowers for a more natural style. Whatever version of curb appeal inspires you, plan it out before you purchase any seeds, flowers, or plants to elevate your garden game. Consider your sprinkler system as well; you may need to make adjustments to coordinate with your new design to keep your plants healthy and hydrated.

Notice Your Lawn

Whether you have a lawn maintenance service or do your own yard work, you should give a little love to your grass in the early spring. This may be the best time to rake up the last leaves of the previous year and aerate to promote root growth. Ponder how you are going to tackle weeds now and get the supplies you need to keep them under control before they run amuck. This may be a good time to concentrate on brown spots in your grass as well; reseeding or weed treatment may be all you need to fix them. While lawn care may not be as thrilling as picking out and planting purple or yellow flowers, it can make your garden look even better.

Spread Your Mulch

Mulch does more than make your landscaping look tidy and well-kept; it also acts as a layer of insulation to keep moisture near the roots, stop soil erosion, and prevent weed growth. Balance is key with mulch; too little and you may lose it after a big rain, too much and it could cause root rot. Here are the most common types of mulch:

• Wood chips

• Shredded leaves

• Pine needles

• Cypress bark

• Pea gravel

• Stone

• Shredded rubber

Each of these materials has its own set of pros and cons, and it is up to you to decide what fits your aesthetic or ecofriendly lifestyle.

Clean Your Containers

Even if you do not have a large yard or dedicated garden space, you can still grow flowers or herbs in a container garden. Late winter is a wonderful time to get your containers cleaned up and organized. For instance, you should remove the root balls of plants that did not survive the cold temperatures, then add a fresh mixture of soil to the compacted soil in your pots. Different soils may work better for different kinds of plants, especially succulents and cacti, which are used to a drier soil with inorganic gravel or clay mixed in.

Plant Your Seeds

Lots of gardeners enjoy the process of growing from seed to vegetable or flower. Order or purchase your seed packets from a reputable supplier and create a dedicated space in your home or greenhouse to monitor their progress. This can be lots of fun for your kids as well, so get them involved in seeding and early planting.

When it comes to Lawn and Garden, Max Warehouse has it all

The last thing you want to do at the end of winter is drive all over town to get your gardening supplies. Max Warehouse has an amazing lawn and garden selection for everything you need to get your garden ready to bloom. Who knows, maybe you will find the inspiration for a new layout or technique when you browse through our garden center.