Spring has nearly Sprung, Prepare for Gardening now!
Are you getting the itch yet? You know, the itch to get out and get your hands dirty? I know I am. This winter weather has beat me up and nearly spit me out and I am ready to get on to nicer, warmer weather. I love to landscape. I love digging my hands in the earth and planting trees, shrubs and especially flowers. And the more the merrier. I love nature! And I love basking in the sunlight with my feet propped up, listening to the birds in song and smelling the wonderful aroma of newly blossomed spring flowers. It is pure heaven. I couldn’t imagine a year without spring. The temperature is always perfect and it, along with the bright sun, is always a mood booster. One other thing I love about spring is the smell of fresh rain. There is nothing else like it. So clean and pure.
Gardening has always been one of my passions. I’ve always enjoyed getting out and tending to my flower beds. One pet peeve of mine has always been those hungry, hungry hippo bunnies. hehee. You know, those furry little soft, fluffy tailed things that hop in your yard and nibble your tender little flower stems as if they have been given a free ticket to a buffet? I love bunnies but it’s always driven me crazy when one day I go out to inspect my flowers and am thrilled to see the new birth of a tulip or daffodil stem, only to go out the next day to find a half eaten stem. But then I remind myself that the bunnies need to eat too. There’s enough to go around I guess. And don’t get me wrong, I am not a bunnie hater at all here. I’ve actually ran off plenty of hungry hawks and crows when I’ve had bunnie nests in my yard. Call me the temporary momma bunny or bunnie babysitter. I am very protective of those adorable bundles of fur. Crows and hawks know I mean business! hehee
I’m counting the days until I can get back in my gardens again. To dig in the dirt, plant some new flowers, spread some fertilizer and even pick the dirt out from under my fingernails. I don’t wear gloves obviously. I don’t like to. And I know, I could prevent all of those blisters but hey, those are a sign of hard work, and that is what this Momma is all about.
Speaking of work, I want to share with you a checklist that just might make your preparation a lot easier.
1.) Look Over Your Exposure ~
- If you are planting vegetables, keep in mind that most need at least eight hours of full sun every day. Flowers and other decorative plants have different sunlight needs, depending on their type. Study what sort of light your yard gets during the day, particularly noting the sunny and shady areas.
2.) Choose Your Planting Areas~
- You need a plan before you plant. A four-by-four-foot plot of land is a good start for vegetables. For flowers, decide where you’d like to dig the beds.
3.) Consider Putting Up A Fence ~
- Fences are especially important if you are planting vegetables (although some flowering plants may be enticing to critters, too). Build it before you plant the garden, so rabbits or raccoons never get a glimpse (or a taste) of that lettuce. Ahem, fences will not stop these critters unless you run chicken wire or another type of blocking material underground. At least a foot down. Remember, these critters dig. And dig they will when they realize you have a garden feast on the other side.
4.) Know Your Dirt Well ~
- Most soil—even sand—can be enriched with compost and be fine for planting. But you need to determine how much organic material and mulch you’ll have to add to make it fertile. A local gardening center can help. Try taking a sample of your soil to your gardening center to see if they can assist you in what your soil is lacking. They will be happy to help you purchase their products.
5.) Decide Between Tilling & Creating A Raised Bed ~
- We actually did both in our yard. We tilled to remove all those unwanted weeds and rocks and then had several yards of topsoil delivered. If you don’t want to till and nourish the soil you’ve got—or if you have a bad back and would rather not be bending down so low to garden—you can build a raised planting bed. Just build up the topsoil in shapes you like, lay out your plants, dig the holes, and place your flowers and shrubs in and that’s it. No beating yourself up trying to dig holes in hard, clay soil or other hard-to-manage dirt. I keep my plants in their pots and move them around on top of the soil to get an idea of where I want them first. Once I find the perfect layout I shift the pot, turning as if I am moving a steering wheel, which in turn leaves a circle mark on the soil and lets me remember exactly where I wanted that plant. It also gives me an idea of how big to dig the hole.
6.) Contact Your Local Cooperative Extension Service ~
You’ll need help determining what plants will grow in your part of the country (hint: Lemon trees don’t grow in Maine), when frosts are likely to hit, and the ideal time to plant and harvest. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has a network of cooperative extension services dedicated to providing that information. Go to usda.gov to find the one closest to you.
7.) Write Down Your Choices ~
- For a vegetable garden, think about what you like to eat and what you generally buy (or can’t buy) at a local farmers’ market. With flowers, make a list of the colors you love and what you’d like to see in a vase on your kitchen table.
8.) Make A Seasonal Plan ~
- Once you determine what will grow, what you like, and what time of year certain plants will flourish, you need to create a schedule. If your flowering plants all bloom in July and then die off, have some evergreen plants to keep the area looking lush. If your tomato plants take months to get big, plant smaller vegetables nearby that can make quick use of the space. Again, a local gardening center can help you plan.
9.) Buy Some Basic Tools ~
- Have these essentials on hand before you begin: spade; shovel; garden rake; soaking hose; hoe; hand weeder; and a basket or better yet, a wheelbarrow for moving around mulch or soil. A lawn fertilizer spreader is also a really nice item to have. Makes spreading that much needed lawn food so much easier and quicker.
This should get you started. Happy Gardening!
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April 20th, 2010 at 4:18 am
Fencing is really costly and not a great solution if you want open spaces. We didn’t want to put fences up so we got DeFence. My brother used it at his house and told us about it. I’m glad he did. The stuff is awesome. It’s keeping the rabbits, and deer, away from our property. Plus, it’s really cheap. I got mine for $12 at the local lawn store.