57 In Gardening

Set Up Your Spring Garden for Success

Set Up Your Spring Garden for Success | angiethefreckledrose.com

Spring is the season of hope and growth. You begin dreaming of the beautiful blooms that are to come. You start to see those first signs of green after a long winter. During the first few weeks of spring, there are measures you can take to encourage a successful gardening season. March is the month of preparation and planning. 

This week, we are expecting at least 18 inches of snow to fall in Massachusetts. It's hard to have patience when the ground is completely covered and you can't see all of your pretty spring bulbs. I'm focusing on the fact that this will all change very shortly. In the meantime, there are seeds to be planted, tools to be cleaned and visions to be mapped out. This is a great time to shop, beat the rush and start gathering your supplies. It's never fun to be looking for what you need when everything is picked over.

Set Up Your Spring Garden for Success | angiethefreckledrose.com

Start Seeds Indoors: If you are planning to grow tomatoes, peppers or eggplants from seed, this is the time to get them planted! Place your seeds under a grow light and watch them begin to sprout. When It comes to flowers, I like to start snapdragons, impatiens and salvia. If you are looking to start your herb garden, sage and parsley are my favorites seeds to start in March. 

Other Flowers You Can Sow: aster, calendula, cleome, coleus, coreopsis, geranium, pansy, petunia, sweet william, viola

Other Vegetables You Can Sow: broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, cucumber, leeks, head lettuce, melon, onions, spinach, winter squash

Other Herbs You Can Sow: basil, lemon balm, oregano, rosemary, thyme

Set Up Your Spring Garden for Success | angiethefreckledrose.com

Clean Gardening Tools: Gather up all of your favorite gardening tools and give them a good cleaning! It is also important to sharpen pruning tools before you start to put them back to use. Trust me, this will make your everyday gardening tasks so much easier!

Prune Shrubs & Trees: Now is the time to prune your fruit trees. It's best to do this on a dry day. Make sure to cut away any suckers, dead branches or diseased parts you can spot. Check on shrubs and do the same. Any damaged areas should be taken care of now. It is also important to get out there and prune any dead or diseased canes you see on your rose bushes. It's helpful to remember any everbearing fruit bushes should not be pruned now, but it is okay to prune raspberry bushes. 

Set Up Your Spring Garden for Success | angiethefreckledrose.com

Clean Up Around Spring Bulbs: Once the snow finally clears, it's time to remove any debris covering your bulbs. Cut back last year's perennials and ornamental grasses. Sometimes critters will move my bulbs around and loosen them a bit. I always take my hand shovel and lightly replant them in the ground if this is the case.

Set Up Your Spring Garden for Success | angiethefreckledrose.com

Plan Out Spring Containers: Spring containers are like a breath of fresh air after the dismal winter season. I like to sit down and plan out what I am going to plant. Hanging planter and window boxes are so much fun to design and put together! I love how they provide a pop of color and bring life back to your yard. Now is a good time to go to the store and look for some containers that are on sale before the rush. I also keep an eye out for shepherds hooks being sold for a good price. I try to get everything in place and thriving before Easter!

Perfect For Spring Containers: pansies, violas, kale, lobelia, bacopa 

Set Up Your Spring Garden for Success | angiethefreckledrose.com

Amend & Prepare: Before your final frost date hits, it's the perfect time to plan out what you envision for future harvests. If you are going to plant different crops, make a list of the varieties you are looking to purchase. Map out where you want to plant them. If you plant the same crops year to year, this is the perfect time to rotate your crops. Some garden pests do overwinter in soil, and if you don't want any of the same problems, it's always best to change it up a bit. Once the soil thaws, you can start to amend your soil. Add nutrients like aged manure, worm castings or even bat guano. This step taken now will ensure healthy and happy crops all season!

Begin Planting Outdoors: Depending in your location and weather conditions, the end of March can be the perfect time to get planting! In my area, my final frost date is late April. If you live in an area like this, cold frames and covered garden beds are necessary. Crops that can be planted in a cold frame include beets, collard greens, carrots, kale, parsnips, Swiss chard and turnips. Again, it's always better to wait, so I always hold off until I'm sure these crops can thrive. 

 Set Up Your Spring Garden for Success | angiethefreckledrose.com

What are you most excited about this spring? Are you starting a new garden project this year, or maybe even attending a fun home & garden show? Tell me all about it in the comment section below. Don't forget to check back on March 28 for a new edition of Tuesdays In The Garden. We will be talking all about spring crops! See you then!

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Tuesdays In The Garden

Every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month, we will be sharing a themed Tuesday In The Garden post! We will be covering seasonal crops, herb gardening, growing flowers, DIY projects, garden gifts, harvesting tips, preserving, garden to table recipes and so much more. You can check out each of our posts to help you get inspired and give you some creative new ideas. Take a look at these great posts below!


Spring is the season of hope and growth. You begin dreaming of the beautiful blooms that are to come. You start to see those first signs of green after a long winter. During the first few weeks of spring, there are measures you can take to encourage a successful gardening season. March is the month of preparation and planning.

 

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57 Comments

  • Reply
    JM Illinois
    March 16, 2017 at 4:38 pm

    Looking forward for Spring to come to Chicagoland area. However, we just had two days of snow on the ground. Guess that Spring will be put off for awhile. Enjoyed your blog very much. Hope to see your post next week.

  • Reply
    ~ linda
    March 16, 2017 at 3:37 pm

    Oh…this is a feast for the eyes! The colors and the fragrances just popping through my screen…I wish! But at lest the colors! I love Spring and have lived places where Crocus and Daffodil and Peony were flooding my yard. Thank you for sharing this. I have never been here before but will be back. We may be moving over this next months to a place where I can actually garden again.

  • Reply
    Kris P
    March 16, 2017 at 3:04 pm

    Gardening in the northeast is so different than it is in coastal southern California – I hope the blizzard doesn’t interfere with your spring garden preparations for long!

  • Reply
    Rose
    March 16, 2017 at 9:20 am

    Great suggestions, Angie! It’s much too cold here right now to do any work outside, but I did start a few seeds indoors yesterday–that always helps my “itch” to get busy gardening.

  • Reply
    CATALINA NINI
    March 16, 2017 at 6:46 am

    I love spring because I can finally wear my floral patterns. Speaking of florals, your pictures are life ♥ !

  • Reply
    Emma
    March 16, 2017 at 6:43 am

    I wish I had a garden – have make do with my window box. But this year I’m determined to really make it beautiful and there’s some helpful tips here so thanks!

  • Reply
    Southern & Style
    March 15, 2017 at 9:04 pm

    This is the first spring I’m going to try my hand at planting flowers and I’m so, so excited about it! Your post really helped me, I’m definitely bookmarking it for future use 🙂

    xoxo, SS

    Southern And Style

  • Reply
    bettyl - NZ
    March 15, 2017 at 7:33 pm

    Your flowers are lovely and you photograph them beautifully!

  • Reply
    Joscelyn | Wife Mama Foodie
    March 15, 2017 at 2:46 pm

    Ah, I can’t wait for spring to finally arrive! I’ve always wanted to start a garden so thanks for all of the great tips!

  • Reply
    Linda Kinsman
    March 15, 2017 at 11:25 am

    Great tips here for all of us anxiously awaiting the arrival of spring. Hope you are doing well and can dig out soon from all the snow old man winter has dumped on your region.

  • Reply
    Joanna
    March 15, 2017 at 7:09 am

    I wish so much I could live in a house with a garden and not in a flat. When I was little I used to help my grandma in her garden with her flowers and I loved it. Very good advice for how to take care of the garden in spring.

  • Reply
    Alicia
    March 15, 2017 at 2:50 am

    I can’t wait for spring! I want to plan some lavender. thanks for the tips!

  • Reply
    riitta k
    March 15, 2017 at 2:00 am

    Amazing photos Angie! And from you we can learn a lot – thank you. So happy you linked at my Floral Bliss! Happy week!

  • Reply
    Ali Rost
    March 15, 2017 at 12:49 am

    Your post made me smile! I can’t wait for spring flowers. While I haven’t tried my hand at gardening .. this year we’re in a new house and I’ve inherited some beautiful beds. I don’t want to kill them .. so it’s going to force my hand. Wish me luck!

  • Reply
    Megan Ogden
    March 14, 2017 at 11:04 pm

    WOW! Beautiful garden! I want to start a garden and I think this a great guide for beginners! Thank you for sharing!

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