Let’s Get Ready to Garden! – SJ Quechuck (Simple Leaf Design)
‘Hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature. To nurture a garden is to feed not just the body, but the soul’ – Alfred Austin
It’s been a long grey winter of planning for your dream garden and now it’s finally time to get out there and get started!
Here are our top 6 gardening tips that you can do now to get yourself ready for the months to come… Get Prepared!
#1 Mindset
It can be overwhelming when there appears to be so much to do before you can enjoy your garden, so start with an open mindset. Gardening is a therapeutic activity that’s full of fun and experimentation. Don’t be too hard on yourself; it’s a judgment and perfection-free zone! Enjoy the triumphs and learn from the failures. Give things a go and don’t be afraid to ask for help, we’re here for you! And of course, don’t forget to take time to smell the roses and watch the butterflies!
#2 Inspect
Make a quick survey of your garden hardscape: paths, fences, water features, and irrigation. Take a look at your plants, trees, and shrubs as well. Look for broken branches, dead stems, and anything that may need fixing, cleaning, or pruning. It’s also the perfect time to check your containers, top up or change out depleted soils and possibly add a few new pots to your collection.
#3 Tools
Pull out your tools and give them a bit of love. Sharpen blades, grease moving parts, and check for anything that may need replacing. It’s also a great time to pick out new ones. Always go for tools that are both fit for purpose and fit your body. Ergonomics is a necessity! Gardening shouldn’t hurt.
#4 Clean up
Once temperatures have stayed around 10 degrees for a week or so, and overwintering pollinators have moved on, it’s safe to cut perennials back to the ground and rake out any debris. Clearing space so that you can really see where your beds are and make room for all those plants that are waking up and stretching out!
#5 Divide & Move
Spring is the perfect time to divide perennials if you have too much of something in one spot. Don’t be afraid to move plants around and see if there’s a place where they would be happier. This is a great way to make room for new material and add fresh plants (or even seedlings) to your garden, or to make room for a bee-friendly patch of native flowers. Urban Roots is opening in early April, you know you’ll find something fun to take home with you, no judgment here!
#6 Soil
Soil is a key component for a happy and thriving garden. You may want to consider adding amendments to build up fertility in areas where you’ve either had nutrient-hungry crops before or plan to plant them this year. A top-dressing of leaf mulch, compost, or Original Sea Soil (made in BC with fish and forest fines) are perfect to add a boost where needed. You might also want to try composted bark or a green mulch to help keep weeds out and moisture in all season long. And don’t forget to turn in your compost! It’s time to wake up those soil microorganisms and get them working again.
Come and see us at Urban Roots starting April 1, we look forward to being your local garden center again this year! Click here to find a location near you!
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