Pre Spring Planting
The weather is warming up a little. Daffodils are in full bloom. The forsythia down the street is striking in its yellow abundance. Even some of the trees in your neighborhood have begun to flower.
Spring can’t be too far away. And, you want to get outside and work in the garden, getting ready for the coming season. There are a number of chores you can be doing before you plant the first spring plant next month.
Rake: If your yard is something like mine, you have plenty of raking that can be done. Whether it is leaves from last fall or pine needles that continue to drop almost by the day, these can all be raked up and placed in a compost pile, or used as a mulch. It not only neatens up your yard and garden, but it also is a source of wonderful exercise, as well.
Mulch: Spread a two to three inch layer of fresh mulch over your garden beds. Mulch helps to prevent weeds from sprouting, helps to keep plants warm during cold days and cooler during the hot ones, and acts as a source of nutrients to your plants as it breaks down and decomposes.
Transplant: Perhaps you have some shrubs you want to move. Maybe those daylilies that are in the corner of your yard, already poking their leaves through the ground, need to be divided. These can all be transplanted now, before it gets too warm. This is also a great time to buy trees to plant.
Compost pile: If you don’t have one, use these next few weeks to build one. It isn’t hard, and doesn’t take many materials to make an effective one. The sooner you build one, the sooner you will be rewarded with rich compost material. Your plants will sing your praises and reward you with healthier production and growth.
Bird feeding. Spring means the return of many of our colorful feathered friends to the area, as they search out nesting materials for their young. Placing a bird feeder near a window not only helps the birds during this busy season of theirs, but it also provides you with hours and hours of enjoyment and education as you watch them from a comfortable position within your house. Birds also help you by cutting down on the insect population in your own yard. A win win situation for you and the birds!
Plan: Begin thinking about what you want to plant this year. Whether it is veggies, fruits, perennials, annuals, or all of the above, plan a budget for what you want to buy. Also, think about where you want to place these new additions to your yard, and to your dinner table.
Spring will be here soon. Get out there, get ready, get exercise and enjoy!