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Spring Growing Season - Spring
Growing Preparation - Spring Garden Preparation
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 - Spring Growing Preparation - Spring Garden
Preparation
Jump-start the Spring
Growing Season
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