Ladies and gents, the time has finally come… Winter is over, and the weather is finally starting to perk up. Springtime is the perfect time to hone your gardening skills, even if you’re an aspiring gardener. Whether you’re trying to save money on your grocery bill or you’d like to boost curb appeal, so your house sells faster, follow these seven steps to get the garden of your dreams.
1. Clean garden beds
Like you, your plants want a clean bed to grow in. So long before you can even think about planting your spring garden, you should take the time to make sure there aren’t any dead leaves, old plants, or weeds left from the previous season. Also, while you’re at it, remove up to 3 inches of the old soil and spread out fresh topsoil.
2. Summer plans
While this post is about getting your garden ready for spring planting, you should also consider whether you’re going to have summer blooms as well. If you plan on selling your home in the summertime, real estate agents often recommend planting brightly colored flowers in gardens to boost curb appeal.
3. Prepare the greenhouse
If you have a greenhouse, you will need to make sure that the space is clean and ready to go. This means sweeping all surfaces and using a mild disinfectant on the interior glass to remove any pests or bacteria that could compromise your plants. Also, let the greenhouse air out for a few days after cleaning.
4. Clean the tools
You’ve taken the time to clean out the garden beds and the greenhouse, so naturally you should take the time to make sure your gardening tools are clean and in good repair. Not only will this make gardening easier, but you can rest assured knowing your tools are free of harmful diseases that could kill your plants.
5. Control the pests
Although the soil may look like it’s free of any pests, you can’t be too certain! Hibernating pests like aphids, snails, slugs, and weevils can lie dormant until the weather warms up. If you’re not careful, those hibernating bugs will wake up to a feast fit for… hungry bugs!
6. Try new seeds
If you’re tired of planting the same old seeds year after year, why not try something new? You can swap seeds or trimmings with fellow gardeners. You can try growing heirloom seeds or seeds from a different region. With that said, we recommend researching the seeds beforehand to ensure your plants actually thrive!
7. Breathe
It can feel like it takes a lifetime for your seeds to finally produce anything, but you have to remember that all good things take time! While waiting for your plants to grow, the best thing to do is to breathe and continue to care for them by watering them as recommended, giving them enough light, and maybe playing some music too!