Planning for This Years Growing Season
Spring is upon us, and what do us gardeners do when we can not garden, yet? We plan our garden for the next growing season of course! Arguably one of the most exciting parts of the season, aside from the end result, is planning, preparation and excitement of the season to come.
Here are some things you can do to plan for this years growing season.
1. Organize Your Seeds & Purchase New
We all do it, at the end of the season! Seeds are stuffed into a box or container without rhyme or reason, likely without even checking if there’s anything left in the packs. Now is a great time to organize. Get rid of any expired seeds, make a list of seeds you will need to fill the gaps for this year and evaluate what worked and what didn’t.
*Seed Brands We Carry to fill the gaps in your collection are OSC, Suttons, Renees, & Burpee!
2. Clean Tools & Planters
Inspect and wash your tools to ensure they are in good working condition for the upcoming season. Oil hinges, sharpen blades, scrape off rust & wash them (along with your planters) for spring, to get rid of any diseases or overwintering insects that could have been left over from fall.
3. Prune Trees & Shrubs
The general rule for shrubs and trees that bloom on new growth is to prune in the winter and early spring. Trees and shrubs that bloom on old growth should be pruned in late spring or summer. That makes early spring the perfect time to start pruning many of your plants.
Using sterile pruners, cut off dead stems, along with any lower, unwanted branches from the tree or shrub. Prune to your desired shape, clipping off branches above a node (https://www.thespruce.com/what-is-a-node-2539765). You may need to do your research beforehand, into which plants you plan to prune to ensure you’re doing it correctly.
4. Purchase Spring Bulbs
It seems these days, everything sells out in a flash! That means it’s a good idea to get your supplies and shopping done early. Decide in advance which bulbs you plan to add to your landscape and garden, so you know exactly what you’re going to purchase when our bulbs arrive!
5. Design This Years Garden
Is it just me… or does the garden seem to get bigger every year? Adding a raised bed here, another over there, and maybe a few more planters! Am I right? Now is a great time to cozy up on the couch and draw, list (however you get creative), design and plan where you’ll put those new additions and what materials you will need. Sourcing and gathering these materials in advance will help the spring additions go a lot smoother.
We have a wide variety of seeds & bulbs available at the shop, come and visit us! We’d love to see you!