Preparing Your Garden for Spring [UPDATED]

As spring gardening starts, gardeners are itching to get back in the dirt after those cold winter months. The desire to reconnect with the earth and get ready for growth is strong with every passing day and warmer weather looming. Preparing a garden for spring involves a series of must-do’s from testing the soil to cleaning tools all to ensure a healthy garden. With these steps, you can set yourself up for a great growing season full of new plants, beautiful garden beds and healthy plants ready for those warmer days ahead.

Editor’s Note [04.03.25]:
Our guide, “Preparing a Garden for Spring” was first published on March 17, 2015. Today we have made changes to many areas of the article. In addition, we have added new sections including 5 new essential spring garden preparation tasks.

The urge to garden becomes stronger with each day the late-winter sun rises higher in the sky. Gardener’s love reconnecting with the earth and waking up their garden to a new growing season. Since it is never good to begin working the soil too early, there are projects that gardeners can do in early spring to fulfil their urge to begin their gardening season. While completing tasks like clearing drainage ditches, repairing garden fixtures, organising and sharpening garden tools and weeding young spring weeds is necessary for early spring garden preparation, gardeners really want to get their hands in the soil.

The preparation of the soil is one of the most important tasks of spring garden preparation.

However, working soil too early is truly a mistake and experienced gardeners fully understand.  Plant roots thrive in well-aerated soil, having air spaces between the soil particles.  When melting snow or spring rains have the soil saturated it can be easily compacted just by treading across it.  Furthermore, if this saturated soil is turned over in clumps (since it is compacted) it will end up just baking and resulting in lumps of soil that are practically impervious and difficult to break up at a later date.  The wet soil is heavy and will not break up into a texture that is loose and air-retaining.  Therefore, it is important to know when the soil is ready to be worked for early spring garden preparation.

Figuring out whether the garden soil has dried out enough to be worked is not a difficult task.  Gardeners have traditionally felt the soil to tell if it is ready.  It is as easy as picking up a bit of soil, about half of a cup, in your hand.  Form a ball by squeezing the soil together.  The soil is ready for working if the ball can be shattered readily by pressing it with your fingers.  Another test to know whether the soil is ready is to drop the ball of soil from a height of about three feet.  If it shatters, the garden is ready to be worked.  However, if the ball keeps its shape or does break, but with great difficulty and into larger sections, the soil is not ready; the soil is still too moist.  Working soil that is still too wet can completely ruin its texture for the entire gardening season.  Once the soil passes the texture test, it is time to continue with the garden preparation.

As the cold weather starts to fade it is time to start getting your garden ready for the growing season. These 11 jobs will help you have a healthy, thriving garden come spring.

Use well-seasoned manure or finished compost to top-dress the garden beds in preparation for planting.  Try not to dig the beds because they already have a complex soil ecosystem.  It is typically better to leave this ecosystem undisturbed. The organic matter added to the top will work nutrients down into the garden soil over time, ensuring healthier plant roots and a thriving spring garden.

The vegetables that thrive in the cooler temperatures of spring are lettuces, leeks, peas, and spinach.  Use successive plantings that produce different maturation dates to create a prolonged harvest ensuring fresh garden plants throughout the season. These early spring crops can then be followed by plantings of broccoli, cabbage, kale, radishes, turnips, onions and new potatoes for a diversified spring garden.  If you live in an area where freezing temperatures tend to linger, it is important to mulch early bulbs. This helps to protect against frost and ensure healthier new growth in your own garden.

If a hard frost is upon you, early spring plantings can be vulnerable.  It is simple to avoid damage to the plants by covering the seedlings overnight.  Coverings can include cardboard, an overturned bucket, a cold frame, or even a large flowerpot.  If you are lucky enough to have a greenhouse, seedlings can be started early without the threat of inconsistent early spring weather. Additionally, using cold frames or cloches in your garden can provide similar protection if you do not have a greenhouse.

For bulbs that were forced in bowls or pots indoors, early spring is the time to set them into your garden beds.  It may take two or three years for these bulbs to support flowering, but some of them may also bloom the following spring. For the best results, ensure bulbs are planted in rich garden soil with ample organic matter to support strong new growth in the coming seasons.

The best and easiest time to divide perennials is when the emerging shoots are only about two to four inches tall, this is ideal for ensuring robust new growth.  Make sure the new garden beds are prepared with a six-inch layer of organic matter spread over and worked into the garden soil deeply.  The organic matter can be rotted manure, compost or peat moss, which all contribute to a healthy soil structure.  Plants are less likely to suffer from any summer drought when they are growing in deep, rich soil.  The existing beds of perennials can then be cleared of any old debris.  They should also be mulched to prevent the growth of weeds.  Make sure the mulch is not applied over any sprouting root mass, but rather around each plant.

These are essential tasks in spring garden preparation. Spring is the time to stake any woody perennials that are sprouting, like asparagus, as these will require protection from strong winds.  Plants like this may need support as they grow tall and may be exposed to wind.  Avoid disturbing the root mass of the emerging shoots with these stakes.

Shrubs and trees are a part of the garden as well; spring garden preparation should include attention to these plants.  Spring preparation of shrubs and trees will involve pruning out dead or damaged branches, pruning fruit trees, removing stakes or relaxing wires that are installed on trees planted the previous fall, transplanting existing shrubs that may need moving prior to leafing out, and applying horticultural oil sprays to apple and pear trees and oil to ornamental trees and shrubs.

Although clearing winter debris may overlap with other spring garden preparation tasks, it deserves special attention as a separate task to prepare your garden. Removing dead material, such as fallen leaves, broken branches, and any leftover shrubs or spent flowers from the previous year, will allow for proper airflow around garden plants and reduce the risk of disease. As you clear, aim to expose bare soil to sunlight, which can help warm the ground for new growth. This cleanup also makes it easier to see where garden beds may need soil amendments or organic mulch as you start preparing your garden for spring.

Although starting seeds indoors could be part of other gardening chores on your list, it merits focus as a separate task for spring garden preparation. Starting seeds indoors extends your growing season and gives delicate plant roots a strong head start before they face outdoor conditions. This approach also ensures your new plants will be healthy and garden-ready when warm weather arrives.

Properly cleaned tools promote healthy plants by reducing the spread of disease and dead material between garden beds. Start by removing any soil and dead leaves stuck on tool surfaces, which can hold moisture and lead to rust. Scrubbing with steel wool and a disinfectant ensures that tools are sanitised and ready for the season. Taking the time now to clean and sharpen your tools will make it easier to handle spring garden tasks and encourage smoother gardening throughout the season.

As part of spring garden preparation, it is essential to inspect all garden structures, including fences, trellises, and raised beds. Look for any damage from winter storms or cold weather, such as broken panels or loose supports that could hinder the growth of plants. Ensure that garden structures are properly secured and in good condition to support garden plants through the growing season. Repairing these structures now will ensure they remain functional, providing the support needed for healthy plants and new growth throughout the season.

Ensure that your spring garden is ready for the growing season by setting up efficient watering systems. This task is essential, as maintaining moisture retention is key to supporting new plants and ensuring healthy plants thrive. Install or check your irrigation systems, such as soaker hoses or drip irrigation, to prevent dry soil conditions and ensure that garden beds receive consistent moisture. For garden plants, particularly those in raised beds, setting up watering systems now will help maintain the right moisture balance throughout the growing season.

In short, spring garden prep is key to a garden that will flourish all season. By clearing winter debris, testing the soil and making sure your garden structures are sound you are laying the foundations for healthy plants. Preparing a garden for spring is a mix of essential and easy jobs that will get your garden ready for new growth. From planting early veg to setting up watering systems, every job counts.

As spring goes on keep looking after your plants by protecting seedlings, dividing perennials and using organic mulch. Do not forget to check your irrigation systems and clean your tools as they are key to a healthy garden. These jobs are crucial to having a garden full of healthy plants and new growth. Once you have done these jobs your garden will be ready for the warmer months and the beauty of spring.

As the weather warms up spring garden prep is essential to get your garden ready for a season of growth. Taking the time to prepare your garden for spring means the foundation is laid for healthy plants and a happy garden. Whether you are an old hand or a beginner, prepping a garden for spring is the key to unlocking your outdoor area.

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