It’s that time of the year! Spring is here, flowers are blossoming, we have rainy and sunny weather, which calls for a beautiful garden. Spring time is also gardening time, so here are some handy gardening tips for you this spring.

Make A Plan

Envision what you want your garden to look like and work from there. You have to get to know your site before you can determine whether what you envision will work. Take a stroll around your backyard and make a rough sketch of where you want existing plants to be. You might have to perform a simple soil test to determine whether your soil is well balanced with the right nutrients and PH – this is especially a good idea if you’d like to grow any vegetables and herbs. Once you know which plants and vegetables you’d like to grow, it’s time to hit the stores for seeds, plants, and equipment!

Purchase The Right Tools

The right equipment makes gardening that much better and more pleasant. There are a few basic must-have’s that you should get before you start planting away.
First thing is first, gardening can be quite hard on the hands, so purchase a set of gardening gloves that are both comfortable and protect against thorns.
Next on the list is a shovel. It’s recommended to get a shovel with a pointed tip because it’s great for digging holes and preparing sizable garden beds. While you’re at it, when you get your shovel, purchase silicone or Teflon lubricant to spray your shovel with. A coat of this spray will make shoveling easy and won’t cause such a mess.
Weeding and Trowel tools are essential when it’s time to pull weeds out at the root.
While a watering can is sufficient and essential for many, it’s a good idea to purchase a long garden hose and a nozzle so that you can water areas that may be harder to reach.
Rakes are great to prepare beds for planting and to gather any garbage or leaves.
Although you might be planting mostly in the ground, it’s always a great idea to purchase pots, but this time purchase ones that are lighter in weight. This way you can take the strain out of any heavy lifting. Place a piece of landscape fabric on top of the packing peanuts and then layer on your potting soil. To reduce the weight of the pot further, use a potting mix with a lot of vermiculite and peat moss.

Mix Up Your Plants And Seeds

For longevity and colour, purchase a mix of perennials and annuals. Most people typically purchase the annuals since they last one year, but don’t fear to give perennials a try. Also, do a mixture of purchasing seeds and ready plants. Good plants to start from seed are lettuce, radishes, beans, sunflowers, and marigolds. Keep in mind that while buying plants is more expensive than seeds, buying already established plants saves you from several weeks of growing seedlings.

Get Your Car Ready for Transportation

Line the back of your car with a plastic tarp and place a little step ladder on top of the tarp. The slots in between the rungs of the ladder are a great compartment to protect your plants during the drive home. And you won’t have to worry about spill plants and messing up your car!

Restrict Aggressive Plants

Prevent any plants such as gooseneck loosestrife from bombarding your entire garden. Plant them in a plastic container or large plastic pot, to ensure that the underground roots do not grow too quickly around your entire garden. Cut out the bottom of the container with a knife, and let the roots grow downwards into the soil.

Assist Your Root Bound Plants

If you do decide to buy ready plants that are planted in pots, chances are they are root-bound. What that means is that while the plant was growing in the pot, the roots began to form tight circles in the pot which will ultimately prevent water and nutrients from traveling to the leaves and the plant. To fix this issue, gently pull the roots outward using your fingers or if the job is a tough one, make small vertical cuts in the root-ball using a knife.

Protect Your Bulbs

Sometimes, unexpected furry guests, such as moles and gophers, can ruin our plants and vegetables. To prevent any digging or damage, stake a net over the bed of flowers that you plant. Later on, you can remove the netting or cut holes in the cloth and let the plants grow through.

Plant Gorgeous Rises

Pruning is a crucial step in keeping the center of flowers so that sunshine and nutrients can shine in. By pruning your roses, you keep the moisture out and prevent black spots from forming.

Enjoy Your Garden

You’ve done all the hard work. Now it’s time to kick back on your lawn chair and enjoy the beautiful plants you’ve planted all on your own!