Spring is a time of renewal and growth, making it the perfect season to start or revamp your garden. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting out, careful planning is key to a successful and bountiful garden. As we approach the middle of Spring, it’s time to prepare your garden for the warmer months so you can be fully prepared for the Summer heat. Today, we’ll walk you through some spring garden tips for the upcoming year.
Early Spring Garden Tips
Although the first official day of Spring is March 1st, many gardens often use the weather to decide when spring has begun. Early spring is considered the first few weeks when temperatures in your area begin to trend upward, and most plants start to break dormancy.
Clean Those Flowerbeds. The very first day of spring gardening may not be the prettiest–but it is one of the most important! Clearing away dead leaves, piles of tree branches, and other dead winter debris is key to getting your soil prepped for planting. This is also a great time to break out the shovel and clear any ‘protective winter mulch.’ This will cut back on remnants of last year and give what’s underneath a good churning.
Bring On The Perennials. Now that you’re ready to plant some perennials, dividing them up is a great budget-friendly way to add more plants to your garden and share them with friends and family. When plants grow in a clump, the middle begins to thin out, which can cause bare spots to appear. Luckily, dividing them up is the perfect remedy for this! Now that you’ve got everything organized, it’s time to add a fresh layer of mulch to your garden beds. It helps your soil retain moisture, keeps away weeds and helps to keep your new plants in place during spring storms. Be sure to keep it even and avoid layering it on thick!
Prune & Plant Veggies. If you’ve avoided pruning your trees or evergreen shrubs at the beginning of spring, now is the perfect time. Fruit trees benefit especially well from this, but only if you do so before the buds begin to bloom. Doing so afterward causes excess stress on the tree and can affect the quality of your fruit. Also, hardy veggies like potatoes, artichokes, peas, and lettuce germinate best in cooler soil. If you plant them now, you’ll be ready to harvest them by summer.
Mid-Spring Garden Tips
You’ll be entering mid-spring around April. Here, you should begin to see more of the outside world take on spring-like qualities. Trees begin to bloom, and bulbs start to sprout. Now that most of the hard cleanup has been completed, it’s time to begin planting!
Time to Plant! Perennials usually need a little time to grow and settle their roots before the heat of summer. Plant them first, and then determine where exactly you need color. Cool seasoned annuals like pansies make a great addition to a garden overflowing with variety. They also work well in planters if you want to pop some up around other areas of your home. Now that the ground is warmer, trees and shrubs have the space to grow new roots before it gets too hot. Once you’ve finished planting, don’t forget to top your garden off with a fresh layer of mulch!
In Georgia, April is the perfect time to plant your favorite ‘warm-season’ or ‘frost-tender’ crops. These include beans (snap, pole, and lima), cantaloupe, sweet corn, cucumbers, eggplant, okra, field peas, peppers, squash, tomatoes, and watermelon. It’s also a great time to plant herbs like mint, rosemary, cilantro, basil, and thyme.
Late Spring Garden Tips
Once May hits, it’s officially late spring and time to clean up the plants that have already bloomed. If you’re noticing a few missing plants
Deadhead Cleanup. After a month or two in the elements, it may be time to remove spent bulbs and blossoms. This makes it easier for plants to store energy and really cleans up the garden nicely. It’s important to remember only to clean up foliage when it’s fully dead, dried, and yellowed. The early snip doesn’t always do the trick.
Decide on Summer Aunnuals. It’s time to go ahead and plan for summer planting. With your goals in mind, research and select the plants you want to grow in your spring garden. Consider factors such as your climate zone, soil type, and available space when choosing your plants. Make a list of your desired plants and determine their planting requirements, including sunlight, water, and spacing needs. Picking out your favorite summer annuals like petunias or zinnias is a good choice because they aren’t in bloom yet.
Plant Veggies and Summer Blooms. While you start harvesting and seeing results from the plants you sowed in early spring, you can begin transplanting seedlings. Some great warm-seasoned crops for this would be tomatoes or peppers. If you prefer floral blooms rather than vegetables, ‘spring blooming’ bulbs should be planted once there is no more threat of frost!
Choose P.O.P.S Landscaping For Spring Garden Prep
Planning your perfect spring garden for the year 2024 doesn’t have to be overwhelming. By following these step-by-step guidelines, you can create a beautiful and productive garden that will bring you joy and abundance throughout the spring season and beyond.
P.O.P.S. Landscaping stands out as the top professionals, providing tailored solutions to ensure your garden flourishes in every season. By understanding and implementing the right pruning practices for each season, you can transform your outdoor space into an oasis of natural beauty that reflects the unique charm of Georgia’s climate. Trust P.O.P.S. Landscaping for all your landscaping and hardscaping needs, and let your outdoor space be gorgeous year-round. Happy Gardening!
