Tips To Make Your Garden Grow This Spring
Inside: Here are some tips to help your garden grow this spring, giving you a great garden to harvest this summer and fall.
The days are getting longer, the weather is getting warmer, and nature is starting to come back to life. It’s springtime! After a long winter, your garden may require some TLC. Here are some tips to help your garden grow this spring, giving you a great garden to harvest this summer and fall.
This post may contain affiliate links, see my disclosure policy for more information.
Tips To Make Your Garden Grow This Spring
Each year that you tend your garden lot it is going to get better and grow better fruits and vegetables. Each year you are adding more compost and nutrients. You are removing weeds and plants that are getting in your way.
Don't give up after one or two years. Take what you have learned and keep going.
Get updates & freebies delivered to your inbox!
Start with A Plan For Your Spring Garden
Decide what you want to grow and where you want to plant it. Draw up a simple diagram or map of your garden so you can keep track of what goes where.
I still need to update my list of seeds that we already have so I know what I need to order and when I need to:
- get them started indoors
- direct sow them outdoors
- winter sow them
Decide on where you are going to plant everything. Think back to how things grew last year if possible. Change things that didn't work, and stick with what did work.
Start Your Garden with A Clean Slate
Remove any dead leaves, branches, and debris that have accumulated over the winter. This will help your garden breathe and prepare it for new growth.
Add some compost. Compost is full of nutrients that will help your plants grow strong and healthy. You can use old chicken waste, waste that is at least a year old so you don't risk burning your plants. I believe rabbit waste is safe to use right away.
Have A Plan for Weeds
Weeds compete with your plants for water and nutrients. Getting rid of them before they have a chance to take over your garden is great, but having a plan to prevent them from growing is best. Toward the end of the season last year, I was done and weeds took over our garden.
This year we will be using a weed barrier fabric to prevent that before it happens this year. The long we tend the spot for the garden the better it will become. It is still a new garden lot.
If you go the weed barrier route, you need to make sure it is a fabric for water to get through instead of sitting on top and not getting to your plants.
Divide Perennials
Dividing perennials is a great way to add more plants to your garden. After a few years, if your plants grow in a large clump, the middle can thin out, leaving a bare spot. Dividing the clump will encourage new growth.
Bonus: Swap perennials with friends and family for more variety. OR sell some of your pieces for some extra cash.
Add Mulch to Your Garden Beds
One of the easiest ways to make your yard look polished is to add a fresh layer of mulch around the garden beds. This also helps the soil retain moisture and keeps down weeds.
Prune Trees and Shrubs
If you didn't prune in winter, now is the time to trim your fruit trees. Prune before the buds begin to break into bloom, or you'll stress the tree and get a tiny crop (or possibly none). It's also a good time to prune evergreen trees and shrubs.
Start Seeds Indoors
If you want to plant vegetables that need a longer growing season, now is the time to get those seeds started indoors. This gives them a better chance to produce longer giving you a better harvest.
So, there you have it, some simple yet essential tips to help your garden thrive this spring and yield an amazing harvest in the summer and fall.
Remember to have fun, experiment with different plants, and don't be afraid to get a little dirty. With a little effort and some TLC, your garden will flourish in no time. Happy gardening!
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I start weeding my garden in the spring? We now know to resist the urge to clean up the garden until temperatures are consistently above 10°C or 50°F. Many butterflies, pollinators and other beneficial insects overwinter in the dead leaves and hollowed out stems of last year's plants, and it is important not to disturb them too early in the season.
What grows fastest in spring? The fastest growing spring vegetables include the following: radishes, lettuce, spinach, arugula, kale, turnips, and peas. All of these vegetables should be fertilized, planted in loose soil, and given adequate sun and moisture.
Want More?
Transitioning Seedlings Outdoors: A Gardener’s Guide
6 Vegetables That Require Space to Grow
How to Build Raised Garden Beds
