Best products for your spring garden
If you’re like most gardening enthusiasts, you’ve counted down the days before you can put your hands in the ground. However, spring gardening is more than just plants. You need to get your garden in shape for greens, vegetables, and flowers to grow.
From cleaning last year’s plant debris, to preparing the soil, to deciding what to plant, there are plenty of things to do at the start of the spring planting season. We make things easier for you by guiding you through key stages of the spring garden and providing information on key products that will keep your garden growing this season and beyond.
Tidy up your garden space
The winter months can put a lot of strain on your outdoor areas. Hence, evaluating your garden space should be the first step in preparing for the upcoming planting season. Not only will cleaning your property look better, but it will also create a healthy environment for spring plants to take root.
Remove dirt
Start cleaning your spring garden by removing debris that can hinder plant growth. Rake and remove any leftover autumn leaves, old mulch, pine needles, and fallen sticks and twigs. The early spring gardens are often full of remnants of flowers and vegetables from last year. You should therefore also remove these. Work carefully in areas where perennials are planted so as not to disturb delicate roots and bulbs.
Prune shrubs and bushes
Trimming shrubs and bushes that look unkempt during the spring season is an excellent idea. Start the process with pruning shears to cut off dead or broken branches. Cut back well-established, non-flowering bushes.
When pruning flowering shrubs make sure you understand their growth patterns before pruning. While it’s okay to prune shrubs that produce blooms on new shoots, those that bloom on last year’s branches in spring should be pruned in late summer or fall.
Pay attention to landscape features
Bad winter weather, including snow and ice, can be brutal to decorative and functional landscaping. Spring is the ideal time to clean and inspect items such as garden statues, flower pots, benches and grids, and to replace irreparable items. Thoroughly clean masonry such as walls, sidewalks, and stepping stones and repair any damage. Repair or replace landscape lighting that is no longer working properly.
Focus on the ground
Strong, healthy plants start with nutrient-rich soils, which the U.S. Department of Agriculture emphasizes. It’s a good idea to use a soil testing kit to check your soil pH and other variables like nutrient levels and moisture so that you understand the next steps you need to take for the health of your plants.
Make it plant friendly
Seeds germinate more easily and root systems develop in soils that are loose and free of lumps. Use a hoe or spade to break up the soil in small areas or a tiller to get larger swathes of land.
Add fertilizer
Once you have determined the health of your soil, adding appropriate fertilizers can create a beautiful garden full of healthy plants. Spring is also the perfect time to spread out compost before planting. If you’re working in a raised bed or other areas that may need additional soil, mix in a packaged garden soil that’s already rich in nutrients.
Time to plant
It is time to plant. Whether you enjoy growing flowers, vegetables, herbs, or a combination of plants, be prepared with a few important things.
Small garden tools
Hand tools, including rakes, spades, seeders, trowels, and shears, are all useful when planting seeds in the ground and are often available in kits.
Seeds and plants
An almost unlimited selection of vegetable and flower seeds is available in packets or in bulk. Be sure to follow the planting recommendations for the varieties you have purchased. Seedlings are also available in kindergartens and gardening departments. When planting flowers, keep in mind that annual plants are planted every year and the following growing season does not return, while perennials do come back year after year.
Maintain the look of your spring garden
When you have a garden that is looking good, keep it healthy by watering it as needed. Using a simple garden hose is the easiest way to add moisture, and watering cans come in handy for small gardens.
Keep your garden weed free by using a garden hoe before it overtakes your plants. Adding mulch, especially to flower gardens near the outside of the house, gives it an aesthetic look, reduces weed growth and locks in moisture.
The best spring garden must-haves
Developing a garden this spring can bring months of joy and is easy with the right items. Below are our favorite products to make your garden beautiful and abundant.
Bully Tools Level Head Rake
A durable rake makes cleaning the garden a breeze last year. The level head model from Bully Tools has 16 strong steel tines with which dirt can be easily collected and removed. Sold by Home Depot and Amazon
Garden Elite Secateurs
Medium-sized pruning shears are easy to use and suitable for most shrubs and bushes. This pair features sharp, Teflon-coated blades for easy trimming and a lifetime guarantee to protect your investment. Sold by Amazon
MySoil soil test kit
Testing your soil before starting a spring garden will give you some insight into fertilizer needs. The MySoil test kit is easy to use and tests the amounts of 13 nutrients. It also measures pH. Sold by Amazon
Sun Joe 16 inch tiller and cultivator
In addition to being easy to maneuver, the Sun Joe 16-inch tiller and cultivator are powerful enough to cut through hard soil. They’re also powered by electricity, so you don’t have to struggle with fuel to get your yard up and running. Sold by Overstock, Amazon and Home Depot
Greenworks 1500 PSI pressure washer
A lightweight, affordable pressure washer like the Greenworks 1500 PSI model is all you need to thoroughly clean garden paths, retaining walls, and more. It is powered and has a 35-foot power cord and 20-foot hose for cleaning hard-to-reach spaces. Sold by Amazon
Ames 54 inch garden hoe
You will reach for your garden hoe every time you go out to work in your yard. The flat, strong blade makes it versatile for performing numerous tasks, from planting seeds to removing weeds and more. Sold by Home Depot
Flexzilla garden hose
Flexzilla makes garden hoses that are durable and flexible to make watering your garden easier. They’re easy to roll up for storage and come in a variety of sizes. Sold by Home Depot and Amazon
Scott’s Wizz hand spreader
Not only is the Wizz made by a top brand of lawn and garden products, but its battery-powered operation also makes it easy to apply fertilizers to both small and large gardens. It can also be used as a seed spreader. Sold by Amazon and Home Depot
Rosalind Wheeler ceramic pedestal bird bath
A bird bath looks great among the flowers in your yard and provides fresh water for feathered visitors. This attractive base model made of ceramic with a decorative design complements every garden. Sold by Wegmesse
Apollo Garden Tool Set
When you have tools for convenience and comfort, you want to spend hours in the garden. The comprehensive set from Apollo includes loppers, a hand rake, a trowel, a durable bag for transport and storage and a collapsible, padded knee protector that doubles as a bench. Sold by Amazon
Pure pollination heirloom vegetable seeds
Growing a variety of flavourful vegetables is easy with the colossal collection of Pure Pollinations, comprising 40 varieties and 16,500 seeds. We think it’s good that the seeds are not genetically modified and are packaged individually by type. Sold by Amazon
Radius Garden Weeder
With a contoured handle and sturdy, patented blade, you can save your hands and let the Radius Garden weedkiller do the job instead. The die-cast aluminum blade is designed to cut through soil and roots to keep gardens quick and weed free. Sold by Amazon
Bell + Howell solar lights
Solar powered landscaping lights depict pretty gardens and landscaping long after the sun has set. Bell + Howell’s solar lights have two settings with a choice of constant or flickering modes. Sold by Bed bath and beyond and Amazon
Back to the roots organic flower seeds 5-pack
Not sure which flowers to plant in your spring garden? In this set you get five packs of non-genetically modified organic seeds, including marigolds, zinnias, lavender, sunflowers and cosmos. You’ll also appreciate the company’s germination guarantee. Sold by Home Depot
Osmocote Smart Release Plant Food Flower and Vegetables
Your flowers and vegetables will grow strong and healthy when you feed the soil. Osmocote’s Smart Release formula will feed plants with one application for up to four months. It comes in user-friendly granules for smooth application. Sold by Amazon and Home Depot
Jennifer Manfrin is an author for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a unique mission: to help you simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.
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