Spring Growing
Season Preparation - Prepare Your Garden Soil Now For The
Best Season Ever!
Jump-start the Spring Growing
Season
If you invest a bit of time now, you can
ensure a bountiful harvest and a beautiful
landscape to make this your best
 gardening season yet. Preparing a strong spring
foundation means new plantings are better able to survive
the heat, drought and pest attacks of summer.
“Start your garden off right
by adding several inches of organic matter to the top 6- to 12-
inches of soil,” recommends horticulture expert
and author Melinda Myers. “Peat moss, compost, aged manure and
other organic materials improve drainage in heavy clay soil and
increase the water holding capacity of sandy soils.”
Incorporate a slow-release,
low-nitrogen fertilizer like Milorganite before planting
flowers and vegetables. “I like Milorganite’s
low nitrogen formulation” says Myers. “This makes it goof proof
so you will not harm young tender plants no matter what your
gardening skill. Its slow-release nitrogen encourages overall
growth without preventing flowering and fruit production that
can occur when too much nitrogen is applied.”
Reduce weed problems and
increase the health and vigor of your lawn by properly mowing,
watering and fertilizing. “Mow high to
encourage deep roots that are more pest- and
drought-resistant,” Myers suggests. “Taller grass is better
able to fend off weeds.” Mow often and leave the short
clippings on the lawn to add nutrients, organic matter and
moisture to the soil. Use a sharp blade for quicker recovery
and a better-looking lawn.
Water thoroughly but less
frequently to encourage deep roots. Water your
lawn early in the morning to minimize water loss. If you allow
your lawn to go dormant during drought, leave it dormant until
temperatures cool, rains return and nature brings it back to
life.
Use a low-nitrogen,
slow-release fertilizer for your spring
feeding. An organic nitrogen type fertilizer
will not promote lush growth that is more susceptible to
disease and requires more mowing. Plus if you stop watering or
your community institutes a watering ban, it won’t damage the
lawn. In fact, the fertilizer will stay in the soil until the
weather improves and your lawn starts to grow.
Improve the health of trees
and shrubs with proper watering and mulch.
Water new plantings whenever the top few  inches of soil are dry. Don’t forget about
established plants. These need a helping hand during
extended periods of drought. Always water thoroughly to
encourage deep drought-resistant roots.
Maintain
a 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch around trees and
shrubs. Wood chips, shredded bark and other
organic materials help conserve moisture, suppress weeds and
improve the soil as they decompose. Keep mulch away from the
trunk of trees and crowns of other plants to reduce the risk of
disease.
Myers suggests you create or
expand existing mulch rings without the use of
chemicals. She says it’s simple, “Just edge the
mulch bed, cut the existing grass short, spread a layer of
newspaper or cardboard over the area and cover with wood chips
or shredded bark. The paper provides an extra weed barrier and
eventually breaks down adding organic matter to the soil.”
Use an all-purpose fertilizer
to give existing trees, shrubs and perennials a nutrient
boost. A low-nitrogen, slow-release formula
encourages moderate growth that needs less pruning and is less
susceptible to certain pests.
And don’t forget to take a moment to enjoy the beauty of spring
while preparing your landscape for the season ahead.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
Spring
Growing Season Preparation - Prepare Your Garden Soil Now
For The Best Season Ever!
Jump-start the Spring Growing
Season
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