Spring Gardening – Tips for Planting and Maintenance
Homeowners inevitably come down with “spring fever” once the weather warms up after a long cold winter and begin thinking about new planting. Here are some tips for creating and maintaining your garden during the spring:
- Prevent insect problems with strategic planting. Lawns, fruit trees and vegetable plants require full sun during the day. Reserve shady spots for shade-oriented plants.
- Prepare vegetable beds and rows by loosening the soil and mixing it with organic matter.
- Plant grapes and berries in late March or early April. If you are thinking of planting blueberries, make sure the soil is acidic and has good drainage.
- Divide and plant perennials. Water after planting and on an as-needed basis.
- Prune fruit trees every year to maintain their productivity and shape. Remove crowded or shaded branches as fruit-rot and leaf-spot pathogens thrive in dark, damp areas.
- If the temperature drops toward freezing, protect your plants with straw mulch or spun-bonded fabric.
This DigTheDirt video shows you how to build a raised vegetable garden bed:
