The snow won’t be covering the ground for much longer, so it’s the perfect time to start preparing your garden for spring. If you get to work now, you will have a lush and gorgeous outdoor retreat when the warm weather arrives. Here are several steps you can start with:
Clean up Your Garden Shed
When it comes to gardening, it’s a good idea to do spring cleaning before spring actually arrives. Many of us are used to using garden sheds as dumping ground during the winter months. Take this opportunity to declutter your shed.
You should also make sure to clean your tools before you start working the earth. Wipe everything down. Scrub off any leftover garden debris using a sturdy wire brush.
Remove the rust, and sharpen the edges of hoes, trowels, and shovels. To avoid spreading bacteria and fungi to your plants, make sure to disinfect all of your tools with rubbing alcohol.
Purchase Supplies
If you don’t have any fertilizer, it’s best to buy it as soon as possible. When spring arrives, the prices will go up. Of course, make sure to choose the right fertilizer for your garden.
Many stores run specials on garden supplies and tools this time of year. Take the opportunity to buy garden pots, gloves, seeds, and birdfeeders. Many stores want to clear out old supplies before new merchandise arrives, so keep an eye out for clearance items.
Create Some New Garden Art
While you are waiting to start planting flowers, work on your garden decor. This is the perfect indoor winter activity for those who like to craft. If you are lacking ideas, here are a few:
- Make a birdhouse, paint it, and decorate it.
- Decorate terracotta pots.
- Craft a new spring wreath for your shed.
- Use vintage silverware to make a garden chime.
- Make a chalkboard for your shed.
- Make a birdfeeder. You can glue a saucer to a teacup and attach it to a post or a spindle.
Create a Dining Area
If you want to build a proper retreat, garden decor alone won’t cut it. So that you will have a place to dine and relax outside, you can lay a flagstone patio in your garden. If you are up for a challenge, you can make a DIY project out of it. Since flagstone is a method of laying irregular sones in a haphazard manner, it can be a great way to unleash your creativity.
If you decide to lay a patio, make sure to size it right. It may be best to pick out the patio furniture first. Leave enough room to be able to pull out the chairs and walk around them comfortably.
If you have enough stone left, you can create a winding path that connects the patio to the back door of your house or other areas of your garden. A well-executed path holds the promise of undiscovered nooks and vistas, adding a bit of mystery and charm to your garden.
Remove Weeds
When you are preparing your garden for spring, one of the essential steps is removing weeds, debris, and dead leaves. By doing so, you will prevent the weeds from stealing water and nutrients from your flowers and plants.
Hand weeding is the best way to deal with broadleaf weeds. So that the weeds won’t spread to the whole garden, make sure to pull them out while they are young.
It’s also important to get rid of dandelions and other perennial weeds that can easily develop hard-to-pull taproots. To prevent any roots from lingering underground, yank the whole plant when removing them.
Remove the weeds when the soil is moist. Reseed the spot once you are done.
Prune Old Plants
At this time of the year, you should prune old trees and shrubs—especially those that grow new wood. Leave the old wood for early spring or late winter. Then, you will be able to see the branch structure better when you are pruning.
Plants that will benefit from a little pruning include:
- Rose
- Honeysuckle
- Summer-blooming Spirea
- Wisteria
- Redbud
- Butterfly Bush
- Crepe Myrtle
- Flowering Dogwood
Again, remember to disinfect your pruners before you go snip-happy.
Prepare New Beds
Before you start ordering new varieties, you should set up new garden planters and beds. You can do this as soon as the frost lifts. Clear the beds and the borders back to bare soil. When building garden beds, you will need to make sure there is enough room for your new gorgeous plants.
Create a Focal Point
To add more soul to your garden, you can create a focal point. One option is to build a fire pit. All you need is a few dozen standard clay bricks. Since you’ll only need to lay them in rows, it’s quite a simple DIY endeavor.
If you have a tree stump in the middle of your garden, removing it in order to build a firepit can be labor-intensive. So, alternatively, you can turn the tree stump into a garden centerpiece.
Kevin has gone through an extensive home renovation with his son, which he has boththoroughly enjoyed, and dreaded every morning. He is now the proud owner of half his dream house (the other half has been waiting for spring). You can read more of Kevin’s work on PlainHelp.