Despite some winter-like temperatures in Lee County over this past week, spring is right around the corner. In fact, the first day of spring according to the calendar is tomorrow! When most of us think of spring, we picture images like vibrant flowers and lush greenery standing out in front of a natural sunlit backdrop. While in the South, this picturesque idea of spring is not far from the truth, it takes work ahead of the fact to prep the landscape to live up to its seasonal splendor. Getting your garden ready for spring requires a bit of planning and effort, but ultimately these efforts should pay off when you get to enjoy the (perhaps literal) fruits of your labor.
Here are a few tips for getting your garden ready for spring this year!
Clean up from winter. Start by clearing your garden beds and lawn of limbs, leaves and debris that have collected over the winter. You should also prune trees and bushes by trimming broken or dead branches.
Take inventory of your tools. Before digging in, check your gardening tools to see what needs to be cleaned, oiled, sharpened, repaired or replaced.
Prep your soil. Turn soil over and clear it of any weeds. You can improve your garden’s soil by adding as much organic matter to it as possible. One way to do this is by starting a compost collection in your yard for organic kitchen waste, or by using composted manure.
Amend your hardscape. Check for any repairs that need to be made as far as edging, trellises, fencing, etc. If you’ve been thinking about adding some brick or stone edging around a particular flower bed, for example, then now is the time to put it in place.
Watch the sun. Knowing where the sun shines on your garden and for how long can help you select the appropriate plants to put there. While a spot where the sun shines directly for eight hours or more per day is ideal for vegetables, fruit trees and most flowers, areas with partial shade will work better for perennials, ferns and some small trees. The labels that come with the plants you purchase at the nursery should indicate their tolerance for light.
Make a planting plan. Knowing where the light hits in your garden is the first step to this, but part of planning a garden is making sure that the end result will aesthetically complement your yard and home. For example, opt to mix annuals and perennials so that you will have color in your garden longer. You can also experiment with varying plant and flower heights to add some visual interest to your garden.
Plant for year-round foliage. Your spring plants will only bloom for so long, so think ahead to what you could plant now that will thrive in the summer and fall.
Getting your garden ready for spring can be just as fun and rewarding as enjoying the end result. Maintaining a productive and visually-appealing yard and garden can also add value to your home!
For your real estate needs in the Auburn and Opelika area, contact Realtor Ryan Roberts today at 334-750-9872, or by emailing [email protected]!
