It’s spring time in the garden

May 21, 2015 · 0 Comments

Now that spring has finally arrived its time to get our gardens into shape. There are many things you need to do to prepare your garden for this years growing season.
First start with clearing your garden of any debris that has collected in it since the fall, such as dried leaves, twigs and branches. If leaves are too thick and not cleared away they could potentially smother your perennials. Pull any weeds that have germinated over the winter before they flower and go to seed.
Next cut off last years dead growth on plants such as ornamental grass and hydrangeas. Divide and thin out any crowded perennials. Sharing them with friends and family is always a feel good way to keep them alive.
Now is also a good time to get out containers that you want to plant and clean them out getting them ready to plant a little later in the spring.
Prune shrubs and trees of any winter-damaged limbs. Wait to prune spring-flowering plants until after they flower. Now is also the time to plant or transplant trees and shrubs, before the heat of the summer.
Clean out bird feeders and refill to start the season. As well now is also a good time to turn your compost. Keep watch out for any of bugs on plants such as Aphids, Colorado Potato Beetle, the Crucifer Flea Beetle as well as spider Mites and treat them immediately if spotted.
Fertilizing your garden can be done in a number of ways. Although there are many ways to do this, the three most common are:
1. Using a complete fertilizer which is necessary to supply plants with the three major element they require to thrive: Nitrogen (N) which promotes healthy foliage, Phosphorus (P) which stimulates root systems and Potassium (K) which aids in flower and fruit formation.
2. Organic Fertilizers come from living things, like animal manure. These fertilizers not only supply essential nutrients to flowers, they also improve soil health. These fertilizers don’t burn plants, strengthen a plants’ immune system and are non-toxic and beneficial to insects and wildlife.
3. Technically all organic fertilizers are slow-release, as it takes time for organic matter to decompose, however gardeners who want to fertilize once and forget it can shop for slow release fertilizers that use coatings or capsule-like shells to control the release of fertilizer over a period of weeks or months
Once all of this is done you can head to your favourite local supplier of summer plants and get ready to plant your garden to enjoy all summer long.

By Michelle Austen