Spring Gardening TipsWinter is gone and the spring gardening season is upon us. As you properly know, spring is a busy time for all gardeners. It’s the time to clean up the mess winter has left behind, and prepare for the vigorous summer growing season. I’m not going to beat around the bush here--preparing your garden for the summer growing season is hard work. However, I have a few tips that will make the most out of the time you spend working in your garden. Clean up your yard: Get out the rake and begin cleaning up any debris in and around your gardening areas. You also want to remove old mulch and replace it with fresh, colorful mulch. When you apply the new mulch do not to cover any sprinkler heads or obstruct its jet spray. In addition, don’t allow the mulch to form a mound around the base of the plants. Prune plant, shrub and bushes: What you want to do is wait for the plant to begin growing new leave and shoots. Why? Simply put…if you wait until you see new growth you’ll know which branches are alive and which ones should be removed because they have died off. Neatly trim bushes, hedges and shrubs to their wanted form. Before you begin make sure your trimming tool has a sharp, clean cutting surface. This helps the plant recover quickly and prevents disease from being spread. Add compost and other soil enrichment's: If you have your own compost pile from the previous spring gardening season, now is the time to spread it around your garden. By adding compost you give new plants the nutrition needed to jump start their growth and preserve their health. If you have no compost of your own a store-bought supply will do just fine. To save yourself few bucks buying compost the following spring gardening season, you may want to start your own compost pile. Simply add leaves, grass clipping, coffee grinds, and discarded vegetables into a pile and then stir it often to speed the composting process. An add bonus to a compost pile is that worms will begin to live and breed inside the rotten material. In addition, adding a fresh layer of topsoil will give your plants added nutrients so they grow faster and stronger. Attract beneficial insects to your garden: There are many insects that can help you win the battles against destructive garden pests. Here are a few ways to attract them onto your property. First: Stop using dangerous pesticides. These chemicals not only kill destructive garden pests, but they also destroy the beneficial insects you want within the gardening area. Second: Provide food for the insects you want to attract, and keep small quantities of freshwater available throughout your yard. Many gardening shops sell food supplies that attractant a variety of useful insects into your gardening area. Third: Provide a cozy home: These insects all have their own preferred living environment; your job is to provide it to them. Do your research and then create a living area that closely matches their natural habitat. Before long the beneficial insects will call your garden home. These spring gardening tips will help to get you started on the right foot. Your plants will grow faster and become stronger, plant disease and garden pests will be kept in check, and the enjoyment you get from your garden is increased greatly. |