Prepare now for your spring gardening season

Mar 10, 2011

by Judy Wall Lanark County Master Gardener

Are you already yearning to be outdoors in your garden, as you wait for the snow to disappear? This is the time to start planning your spring gardening projects. There are some activities, however, you can do prior to the comfortable spring weather, which you can actually do indoors.

If your gardening tools are anything like mine are right now, they were set aside in the fall, dull, dirty and are in dire need of some TLC. Take your pruners, saws, scissors, bypass cutters, shears, loppers etc. This is the time to give them all a good cleaning, and sharpening. You might find this you tube video helpful http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LlBSrkq-ZU&feature=related

How about your shovels, spades, garden folks, trowels? Are they rusty, sitting dirty and with clumps of mud?

This is the time to give them all a good cleaning and sharpening as well. How many plant pots do you have sitting dirty that can use a good cleaning and disinfecting? While you have all the tools out take stock of what you have, and decide if any of them are beyond repair and require replacing. Make a list of what you should replace, buy before the upcoming season. Think back over your last year’s gardening, and ask if there was a particular tool you could have used and wished you had? Is this the year to treat yourself to some new gardening items?

Clean Bird Feeders and Baths

Are your hummingbird feeders, bird feeders sitting dirty from last season like mine? Disinfect the feeders by scrubbing with weak bleach solution (1/4 cup bleach: 2 gallons warm water).

Larger garden equipment

Every year I promise myself I am going to beat the procrastinators (me included). Make sure your lawn mower/tractor and all garden equipment has been serviced and are ready when you need them. Your local service person will love you for not calling this year in a panic asking to get your lawn tractor serviced, and oh I need it yesterday, my grass is getting out of hand.

Trees/Shrubs

Before your deciduous trees leaf out, make note of tree limbs that should be removed, especially those that overhang structures. Do you have any trees that look like they may be declining or becoming a risk of falling? This is the time you can determine what trees/shrubs have branches that are touching/rubbing, crossing or are suckers, which should be removed. Then when the appropriate time comes you know what trees/shrubs need pruning.

Seeds

This is the time to start planning what seeds you would like to start for your flower gardens, herbs and vegetables you would like to try this year. If you’re not into starting seeds, think about what plants you want to buy for your gardens this coming season, make a list and have it available with you once plants are available for purchase, instead of impulse buying.

I am going to go into this coming gardening season ready, so there are no last minute panics. I am going to enjoy the first nice days of spring out doors prepared and ready to garden, not doing last minute cleaning, calls for repairs, and buying the wrong items. How about you?

All your gardening questions can be submitted and answered on our website at www.lanarkmastergardeners.mgoi.ca