Late Winter/Early Spring Garden Chores

March Garden Chores

I feel it coming! Wood Peckers drumming, spring bulbs just popping up, and little buds on trees and shrubs. SPRING!
After a long Winter here in South Jersey, we are ready for Spring weather! That means chores in the garden! A little work now will go a long way for a good looking, healthy garden. 

Take Inventory

Check your supplies! Tools, seeds, pots, potting soil, seed starter pots/trays, and beds that may need repair. This is the best time to have a master list of what you might need. If you look around you can get many things cheap. 
I tend to go a little overboard with seed buying but it's much cheaper than buying the plants. You can also do seed exchanges. I'd be happy to share(locally) if I have what you are looking for!

Cleaning and Bed Maintenance

Take a walk! Rake leftover leaves.😝 I HATE THAT PART! 
Pull any dead annuals, weeds, and prune back shrubs that have winter damage or overgrowth. See what's beginning to grow and what lasted through the Winter.
Clean out bird houses and put up new ones. I love birds in my garden!
Add another garden bed somewhere...you know you have room! 😉😎

Feed that soil! Luckily I added compost to my beds in late Fall and covered them with leaves and hay to break down. This is the best start! I generally do not add more compost at this time but if I do it is compost that has broken down from last growing season. More on compost in another post! I DO add an organic slow release fertilizer. I like the Organic Miracle Grow fertilizer. I spread it everywhere!

Separate perennials. I am terrible at this but if you do it you will have plants with more blooms. And you can rearrange a perennial bed to your liking. Organized, if there is such a thing in nature 😏

Plant Cool Weather Crops and Seeds

No soggy soil! When the ice has melted and the soil is dry and workable...Crumbly. You can begin planting your cold weather crops. These plants can handle the chilly weather as long as it's not too harsh. Radishes(easy for beginners), spinach, lettuce, kale, broccoli, peas, and cabbage are a few. Do your homework on specific ones you want to grow. I plant all of these from seed right in the bed. Soon you will have lots of greens you can be proud of!

Start Warm Weather Plants Indoors

Warm weather plants such as tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, and cucumbers that love heat and humidity can be started indoors about 6-8 weeks before planting. I like starting mine in the greenhouse. It is warm and gets lots of lightening that new plants need.
If you start them indoors do your research on lighting options. You also need to be careful you don't start them too early and they become leggy. You want strong plants to harden off before planting time.

How and What to plant in! I use an all purpose seed starter or potting soil. I am not at the stage I mix my own yet! Maybe when I'm retired! I use what I have on hand such as flats, trays, and labels. I try to reuse these things if they are clean and dry. I did buy burpee biodegradable pots this year...we will see how that goes. 
Follow instructions on the seed packets. Do some research! Keep the seeds moist, warm, and happy!

Failure

Be ready to fail and have success! After years of gardening I know a great deal but at times feel I know NOTHING...just kidding. But, like all things total failure will happen but that's part of the fun and reward when it goes right!
Gardening is satifying but it's also work and maintenance! This is just the start! 















 

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