How to Prepare for Spring Gardening

You can easily prepare your garden before springtime! First, tidy up your garden by removing lawn debris, establishing a compost area, and removing lawn pests. Next, you can prepare your soil by testing its nutrient and pH level, amending the soil, and adding compost and fertilizer. Purchase seeds and bulbs, and sow your seeds indoors according to their germination times. With some planning and maintenance, you can prepare a flourishing garden for the spring!

EditSteps

EditTending to Your Garden

1. Clean your garden tools with soap and water before you use them. To avoid contaminating your soil or plants, wipe down your garden tools with a soapy sponge or washcloth, then rinse them with water. Seeds are sensitive, so it is important to keep all tools clean.^[1]
   
   • Wash your rakes, shovels, and hand spades, for example.
2. Remove weeds, branches, leaves, and debris from your garden plot. Wear gardening gloves when you do this to protect your hands, and use a rake to help if you need. You can place your lawn debris in a compost pile to use for later, or store it in lawn garbage bags.^[2]
   
   • You can do this in January or February.
3. Establish a compost area in your yard. There are many ways you can make your own compost bin, or you can purchase a bin from a home supply store. Place your compost area on solid ground off the side of your yard, and lay twigs and straw a few inches deep. Then, add organic material like leaves, branches, and food scraps. You can also add manure and grass clippings. Then, cover your compost with a piece of wood or plastic.^[3]
   
   • A compost area is beneficial because you can easily add rich nutrients to your garden without spending much money.
   • Having your own compost also recycles your organic waste.
4. Locate and remove garden pests throughout the growing season. Before you plant your garden, look out for hibernating pests, like slugs, snails, and aphids. They hide in the tops of perennial plants for shelter during the winter. If you find pests in your potting soil, replace it with a fresh mix. You can kill pests as you find them, and use garden pest control methods like sticky traps, oil sprays, and parasitic nematodes when needed.^[4]
   
   • White vine weevil larvae live in compost and feed on plant roots. Keep an eye out for them as well!
5. Install water butts to help collect seasonal rainfall. This is helpful because you can utilize rainwater to water your plants, rather than always using water from your spigot. To install, place your water butt on a firm, flat surface, and measure the height of the butt and cut the downpipe to your measurements with a hacksaw. Then, place it against a wall under a downpipe. Once installed, the water butt will collect rainwater to distribute over your garden.^[5]
   
   • Alternatively, you can cut a notch out of the downpipe and connect a rain trap to the pipe to transport your water.
   • Rain barrels may also be a good option to connect to a downspout.

EditPreparing the Soil

1. Test your soil to determine its nutrient composition and pH level. Purchase a test kit, and dig up about of dirt from the top 2-4 inches of soil to use as your sample. Fill your soil up to the indicated line in the test chamber, and add distilled water with a dropper. Wait 1-2 minutes for the soil test to complete. Do this for both nutrients and pH levels. To determine the levels, check the color of the indicator and match it with the key on your test kit.^[6]
   
   • To make your soil more acidic, add sulfur, aluminum sulfate, or iron sulfate.
   • To make your soil more basic, use powdered limestone or lime.
   • If your soil is missing vital nutrients, add a fertilizer rich in that nutrient.
2. Turn your soil using a pitchfork, shovel, or a rake to clear away weeds. Once your garden bed is cleared away of lawn debris, take a rake or a pitchfork, and go over all of your soil. This helps turn the soil over and remove weeds from your garden. If your soil is dry or crumbly, you can use a shovel or digging fork to help break it up.^[7]
   
   • If there are stubborn weeds still present, rip them out with your hands.
   • Do this about 2-4 weeks before you plant your crops.
3. Add of compost 2-4 weeks before you plant. After your garden bed is turned over, spread an even layer of compost over the top of your soil. You can use a garden spade or a rake to help you spread the compost. For best results, add a layer of compost.^[8]
   
   • Heavy clay and sandy soils require more compost, spread a layer of compost and till it into the soil.
   • You can scoop compost from an existing compost pile using a shovel, or you can purchase bags of compost material from a garden supply store.
4. Add a layer of fertilizer, grass clippings, or mulch. All of these options supply your garden with additional nutrients. If you tested your soil and found it lacking a particular nutrient, purchase fertilizer in that nutrient and use that on top of your compost. If your nutrients are balanced and want to add some extra material to your garden, go with grass clippings and mulch.^[9]
   
   • Grass clippings and mulch both slow down weed growth and improve your soil moisture retention.
   • Using mulch with compost can create exceptionally healthy soil.

EditGetting Your Seeds or Plants Ready

1. Determine your USDA hardiness zone to pick what flowers and veggies to grow. Search online to find your climate zone. Visit a site like https://garden.org/nga/zipzone/, and type in your zip code. Press “Go,” and then review the climate zone listed. Then, click on “View our Planting Calendar for your area,” and check out the crops listed.^[10]
   
   • This site lists tons of helpful information, like when to sow your seeds indoors, when to transplant your seedlings to your garden, and when to garden for the fall.
2. Choose between seeds or starter plants. You can easily grow plants from seeds, though you will need to start growing them indoors before you plant them outside. Alternatively, you can plant starter plants that are already grown to size immediately after the last frost. Buying starter plants is more expensive, but both options work great to get your garden started.^[11]
   
   • Grow plants from seeds if you are starting your garden weeks in advance.
   • Go with starter plants if it is close to your last frost date and you want to start on a garden.
3. Purchase starter plants, seeds, or bulbs for the crops you want to grow. Visit a local garden center or nursery, and pick out what flowers and vegetables you’d like to grow, based on your climate zone. Purchase packs of vegetable seeds, and go with flower bulbs if you’d like.
   
   • You can easily plant your bulbs in the soil with your sprouted seedlings. In addition, you can look for springtime and summer-flowering plants, like lilies, gladiolus, and ranunculus.^[12]
   • If you have any gardening questions, ask the employees of the garden center. They can help get you started!
   • You can also look for seeds online, if that is more convenient.
4. Plant your crops indoors according to germination times if using seeds. Some seeds sprout in just 2-4 weeks, while others take several weeks to germinate, spanning 8-14 weeks. To find out when you can plant your seeds, check your seed package or search online for seed-starting charts. They will inform you of how many weeks before your frost date you should start your seeds.^[13]
   
   • Your frost date is the average date of when to expect your last frost for the season. To find your frost date, search online using your zip code.
5. Plant your seeds in individual containers deep. You can use virtually any small container with individual units to grow your seeds. Select your container, and fill it with seed-starting potting soil up to about below the top. Then, place 1 seed into each of your containers. Keep your seeds in ample sunlight for 6-12 hours a day to grow healthy seeds.^[14]
   
   • Some seeds should be buried deeper in the soil than others. To find out how far down to place your seeds, check your seed packaging.
   • You can use recycled containers like yogurt cups, Keurig coffee cups, egg cartons, or ice cube trays. Make drainage holes in the bottom of each container with a drill or knife.
6. Create a planting calendar to plant your seeds outdoors appropriately. You can plant cold-season crops early in the season, and plant warm-season crops after there is no risk of frost. To keep track of when to plant, make a list of everything you are planting, and list their germination times. Then, list the approximate day to plant them, based on each plant’s growing conditions.^[15]
   
   • For example, cool-season crops include broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage, lettuce, and onions.
   • Warm-season crops include tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant.
7. Harden off seedlings before you plant them outside in your garden. “Hardening off” is when you slowly adjust your plants to the outdoor environment. The process usually takes about 1 week. On the first day, set your seeds in a shady area outside for about 2-3 hours. Try to place them in a spot without much wind. Then, over the next few days you can gradually increase their time outside by 1-2 hours.^[16]
   
   • This helps your plants adjust to the temperature fluctuations and windy conditions.
   • Do not leave seedlings outdoors overnight until you have finished the hardening off process.
8. Plant your seeds, bulbs, or starter plants outdoors on an overcast day. It is best to plant your crops on days without much bright, harsh sunlight. Seeds are sensitive, and harsh sunlight can shock them, even if you’ve hardened them off. Make a small hole with your finger, and place your seedling, bulb, or starter plant inside. Then, add a bit of soil on top. Water your garden immediately so your plants start to take root.^[17]
   
   • It is helpful to check specific transplant instructions so you tend to your seedlings properly.
   • Use a watering can or a garden hose to water your crops.
   • Spread mulch around newly planted plants to improve moisture retention, keep soil temperature more consistent and build the soil.

EditVideo

EditTips

• To help prevent additional weeds from emerging, you can lay down black plastic sheets before you add your soil and compost.
• If you are using raised beds, make sure the walls are straight. You can replace them if needed, or prop them up using rocks or stones. This way, your soil will stay firmly in place.

EditWarnings

• When selecting a location for your garden, try to avoid root systems of trees or bushes.

EditThings You’ll Need

• Garden gloves or clean hands
• Clean potting containers
• Nutrient-rich potting soil
• Seeds or bulbs
• Watering can or gardening hose
• Compost
• Mulch or grass clippings
• Fertilizer
• Garden bed or raised beds

EditRelated wikiHows

• Prepare an Indoor Garden

EditReferences

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