When the birds start chirping and the sun starts shining, it can only mean one thing…Springtime is coming! One of the best parts of spring is the signs of new life! Grass is growing greener, flowers are blooming in beautiful colors and it’s just the right time to start thinking about what you want to grow in your garden.

 

Here are a few tips for planning your dream garden this spring:

 

Think About Your Purpose

 

One of the most important steps to take when thinking about garden and landscape planning is to ask yourself the question: “What do I want to get out of my yard?”

 

Do you want a peaceful retreat where you can rest and unwind? Do you want tons of color and variety in plants and flowers? Would you like to have a garden that sustains your family with fresh fruits and vegetables?

 

Planning out your priorities is a great approach to take before you start planning!

Figure Out What Zone You’re In

 

Did you know that there are different hardiness zones based on the climate where you live? These zones are defined to give you specific guidelines and ideas to go off when planning your garden. To figure out what zone your home is located in, all you have to do is enter your zip code on this website and it’ll define your hardiness zone.

 

Now you know whether zucchini will flourish in Florida or if watermelon will make it in Wyoming!

 

Map Out Your Yard

 

The next step is to decide what’s going where! We suggest sitting down with an old-fashioned pen and paper to draw out exactly what you want where. For example, you probably want the compost pile far from your back porch where you'll be grilling and cooking!

 

Make a List

 

Going off of your hardiness zone, the size of your yard and the priorities you’ve set for your yard and garden, you can now start listing the plants and things you want to purchase! Make sure to be very thorough when making your list. Include things like:

 

• Plants
• Seeds
• Soil
• Compost
• Tools

 

Double Check Your Tools

 

That brings us to our next point! Double check that all of your tools are still functioning and in good shape. Did your well-loved garden kneeler wear thin last year? Are your gardening gloves now fingerless? Does your lawn mower/chainsaw/string trimmer start, and do you have gasoline for it? These are all important things to check out ahead of time. You don’t want to wait until you’re ready to start gardening to realize you don’t have what you need!

Order Seeds Early

 

Obviously, you don’t need to purchase your spring seeds in December, but you should start looking for sources and brands of seeds that you’d like to use. Do you want heirloom seeds? Organic? GMO free? Do you want a very specific variety of cucumber? Start planning now! Once you’ve found what you want, go ahead and order them so they don’t go out of stock before you can get to them.

 

Out with the Old

 

Before you can dive into planting new life and revamping your landscaping, you want to clear out the old stuff. Make sure that any dead/dying plants are removed, weeds are plucked and tossed and any debris or trash has been removed. This will give you a fresh start and prevent the old, yucky stuff from overpowering the new life you’re planting!

 

Think About Critters

 

There’s lots to consider when it comes to critters! And while that is a pretty fun sentence that rhymes, it’s also very important! Here are a few things to think about when it comes to critters and pests in your yard and garden:

 

• Consider planting things that are friendly to the bees and butterflies
• Think about adding a bird bath for your feathered friends
• When creating a vegetable garden, consider adding a small fence around the garden to slow the furry friends who love to scamper through gardens and snack on your produce! (i.e. rabbits, pups, etc.)

 

Once you’ve taken these steps, you’ll be spring garden ready! We hope you’ve enjoyed these tips and we wish you a successful season of gardening!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Topics Lawn and Garden