Wow- the crocuses are peeking through already! Here are some things to consider and start planning for this gardening season. Once spring comes it comes fast and you can quickly fall behind on weeding and garden tasks.
1. Spring Clean Up and Mulch
Does your garden need clean up, edging and mulch this spring? Completing these tasks in late winter before the weeds start growing will help reduce the weeds you need to pull this season. Perennials will come up through a layer of new mulch but most weeds will be discouraged. A deep cut edge keeps grass and weeds from growing into the bed, makes a nice furrow for the mulch to settle in to and allows the edge of the grass to be weed whacked without flinging mulch everywhere. Now is also a good time to finish cutting back dead plant material from last season.
2. Natural Spring Fertilizing
When was the last time you fed your garden beds? Fertilizing your garden beds is important for the continued health of your plants. Since we tend to remove all the leaves and debris from garden beds there is nothing to break down and continue to feed the plants. We use natural, slow release fertilizers that don’t end up in the bay.
I recommend adding any of the following to your garden beds once a season, preferably early spring: leaf gro, manure, compost, mushroom compost, holly tone (for acid loving plants) or plant tone
3. Address Drainage Issues Before Spring Rains
Is there an area in your yard that is eroding due to improper drainage? This is a perfect opportunity to add a new garden bed that is functional too- a Rain Garden! Rain gardens are garden beds that are meant to catch water. They solve erosion issues while also looking gorgeous. There are many native and low maintenance plants that can be in a rain garden. Here’s a link to DIY rain garden building information from Howard County’s Green Central Station:
http://livegreenhoward.com/water/rain-gardens-rain-barrels/
We can also figure out the details and install a rain garden for you!