How to Prepare The Garden For Planting

As Spring approaches, it is time to prepare the garden for your transplants.  While seedlings are cozy inside waiting for the last of the cold weather to pass, it is an opportune time to be outside prepping your garden.

Garden Cleanup

If you did not do a fall garden cleanup, now is the time to start this task.  Tidy up the greenhouse. Make sure you have a functioning hose and spray nozzle. Sterilize any garden pots before planting in them.  Clear out the beds of any debris and weeds that may have popped up with the days warming.

Plant Support

If you did not do a fall garden cleanup, now is the time to start this task.  Tidy up the greenhouse. Make sure you have a functioning hose and spray nozzle. Sterilize any garden pots before planting in them.  Clear out the beds of any debris and weeds that may have popped up with the days warming.

Amend Soil

If you didn’t already amend your soil in the fall, you have time to do this now.  Items that can be added to your soil include compost, manure, and fertilizer. 

If you are new to having a garden, this is the time to obtain your garden soil.  I recommend mushroom soil from a local source.  Check out my blog How to Source Cheap Materials for Garden Beds to see the cost breakdown.

Mulch

If you used wood mulch and it has not broken down, you may want to consider removing this from your beds as it can leach the nitrogen from your soil.  This will rob necessary nutrients from your plants, especially from tomatoes and peppers.

Leaves or straw can simply be moved aside out of the way when you transplant your seedlings and be pushed back around the bottom if you wish.  Having this layer at the base will prevent weed seeds from taking hold and helps with moisture retention. 

Gather Direct Sow Seeds

The last step on the list is to gather all the seeds that will be direct sown.  It is beneficial to take these out in the garden with you as you plant your started seedlings so you know how to utilize the space.  Some gardeners draw out where everything is going to be placed.  I am more of a fly by the seat of my pants gardener, so I take the packets out with me and plan as I go along transplanting seed starts. 

Dream of the Harvest

This may seem like an overwhelming to-do list.  I recommend breaking it down into a few weekends starting the first week of March, however, this will depend on your climate.  This allows plenty of time if the estimated last frost date is at the end of April or beginning of March.  Just remember the abundance that the garden will bring while doing these tasks and that it is well worth the hard work. You will undoubtedly be harvesting food in no time.