When the long, dreary winter is finally over and the green little sprigs of grass begin to pop out of the ground, it’s probably time to start thinking about preparing your garden for spring. There’s a right time to begin preparing your soil, and it make can all the difference for your plants and their ability to thrive throughout the planting season.
Prep Work
First things first, you need to wait until there is no more threat or chance of snow or ice in your area. The soil isn’t ready to be prepared when it’s so heavy with ice, snow, or rain. Doing this too early will only result in giant clumps of clay or dirt that will ultimately suffocate the root system of your plants in the long run. Do a moisture test by rolling the soil in your hands to form a ball, as if you were rolling a ball of clay. Then, drop it from about 3 feet onto concrete or another hard surface. If the soil splinters and shatters easily when dropped or pressed, then it is ready to be worked. If it sticks together or breaks into large pieces, it’s still too wet and you need to wait.
Remove all dead foliage, yard waste, leaves, or branches that may be in your way. You want to start with a clean slate and give your garden room to breathe. Don’t forget to look up as well. If there are any branches overhead that may block the sunshine from getting to your garden, prune the trees in your area. Pull up any weeds that may be growing now. If there are any bare or empty spots, spread a bit of mulch on top to keep your soil safe from new weed growth.
Two Weeks Before Planting
You can start breaking up your soil and covering it with a good inch of natural compost. You can use compost of your own, or you can buy bagged compost at any garden or nursery center. Clean out any rocks, clods, clumps, roots, or weeds while you’re loosening your soil. You want your dirt to resemble coarse crumbs by the time you are finished. This process aerates and cultivates the soil, which gives your garden the best chance for success.
One Week Before Planting
Now is the time to fertilize your soil. Choose your fertilizer based on what you want to plant. The amount of fertilizer you need to spread also depends on what you want to grow. Some plants need more nutrients than others, so you’ll have to research to know how much you will need to fit your specific crop.
Once your garden is prepared, you can start planting according to the planting charts for your area. Remember to take care of your seedlings and watch out for late spring frosts!
