Simple Gardening Tips and Ideas for Spring
Spring is back, and it's time to put one's garden back in shape after the frost. Although the task may seem daunting at first, a list can help get one into the mood for some sweat and toil. Ordering the bulbs and seeds must be taken care of before even touching the garden. A selection must be made of preferred blooms as lilies and gladiolus. A garden plan indicating what will be planted where will also prove helpful before getting into the planting stage, to achieve the most stunning effect of one's garden blooms. Aside from the bulbs and seeds, this would be the perfect time to also order whatever tools you may have missing. This also means first sharpening tools which are already on hand and getting them ready for use.
Another of the first things that need to be done is to clean out the garden. In order to bring a garden into beautiful bloom by the season's height, weeds must be pulled out and all debris such as leaves, remaining snow, and the like must be removed and carted away. It would do well not to forget to clean out the drainage ditches as these are perfect places for debris to gather when the garden is in its off-season.
Fixing the fence as well as the trellises is a must when overhauling the garden for spring planting. Rotting boards should be replaced and sideboards and stakes should be fastened, nailed or screwed on.
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When the soil gets workable, digging a five-centimeter layer of some manure or compost into the garden's borders will be worthwhile. And when the garden beds get dry enough, top-dressing them with the same manure or compost will prepare these for the actual planting.
Trees and shrubs need to be pruned, removing diseased parts of the plant or wood.
Pests need to be hunted down and dealt with before most of the planting gets under way. White vine weevil larvae must all be destroyed, as well as slugs, snails and aphid colonies.
Once everything is cleared up and ready, seeds which take longer to grow like geraniums and begonias may be sown earlier. Other plants may follow, like pansies, snapdragons, and tulips.
When the planting is done, for the rest of the summer, the garden needs to be looked after and followed up. New flower beds may be added or seeds transplanted. Later in the season, flowering shrubs may need some pruning. These are good ideas to keep in mind throughout the rest of the season in order to make sure the garden is well-kept and maintained.
