Spring Gardening Checklist – Greenmoxie™

This spring, get your garden off to a great start.

Leave the Leaves

Your desire to tidy the flower beds is understandable, but leaving the leaves until the temperatures are consistently above 10⁰C (50⁰F) gives all the bugs that have laid their eggs a chance to hatch. I have seen a marked increase in the number of moths, butterflies and fireflies in my garden since instituting this policy.

If the flower beds look too messy or the leaves are so thick that they are preventing seeds and bulbs from sprouting, rake them into a designated leaf pile that can provide compost in the future.

Prune

Prune dead branches and remove last year’s annuals. Prune vines such as wisteria, clematis and climbing roses and lavender when leaf buds break.

Divide your Perennials

Just before spring growth starts, divide perennials. Doing so encourages new growth and gives you mad bartering cache with friends and family.

Compost and Mulch

Compost is essential for soil and plant health. Cover all your beds with a healthy layer once the leaves and other debris has been removed. Getting in early with the mulch will mean the weeds don’t even get a chance to take hold, your beds retain moisture and the garden looks neater.

Vegetables

Start your seeds indoors. Compost your beds and plan your layout using our companion gardening guide. Add a couple of flower seeds such as calendula, nasturtium and marigold to keep pests at bay and attract pollinators. I install a couple of song bird houses around my vegetable field for natural pest control.