How do you know that it's time for spring gardening? Here's a hint: Have you dragged out the exercise equipment and DVDs
to get in shape for summer? Does the thought of one more cup of hot chocolate make you want to gag? Are you counting the
days until Daylight Savings Time? Do you have a serious case of cabin fever? These are all clues that it's time to get
cracking on spring gardening. "What about inclement weather," you ask? Not a problem, and it's no excuse for procrastination!
We have divided spring chores into rainy/snowy-day chores and fair-weather chores, leaving little excuse to delay this spring
ritual any longer. If you need help, choose from a menu of maintenance and spring gardening services at Galaxy Gardens.
Rainy/Snowy Weather Spring Garden Preparations
Start a journal. Make notes on what works and what doesn't work for reference next year. Details fade from year to year.
Your garden journal will eliminate the need to reinvent the wheel next year.
Clean, oil and sharpen any small tools that you put away last fall without cleaning.
Repair or replace tools in bad repair. You'll find an array of gardening tools at Galaxy Gardens.
Oil and lube lawn mowers, tillers, etc. Schedule routine maintenance to sharpen blades and check for loose nuts, bolts,
and belts.
Clean out the garage and free yourself of old chemicals by disposing of them at the county facilities. You'll find a
full line of pesticides, herbicides, and soil amendments at Galaxy Gardens, many of them environmentally friendly and safe
for children and pets.
Organize your storage areas with corkboard, shelves and bins.
Clean annual containers. Replace liners and fill with new potting soil. Start with organic potting soil available at Galaxy
Gardens and maintain your organic pots with earth-friendly products.
Assess your gardening needs for this year and make a list.
Line up professionals now - if it isn't already too late!
Fair-Weather Spring Gardening Tasks
Clear debris from the lawn and garden beds, and cut back dead perennials.
Apply pre-emergent weed control early to your lawn areas to help reduce your crabgrass that develops in June, July, and
August. Don't forget Scotts 4-Step program to develop a picture perfect lawn.
Begin lawn maintenance programs. Seed, fertilize, patch and mow. If your lawn is inundated with dandelions, apply an
application of Ortho Weed B Gone by spraying - before they go to seed and multiply. Visit Galaxy Garden for expert advice
on sprucing up your lawn. Our experts are trained and eager to help you.
Test soil pH level and amend soil.
Prune roses, young trees, non-flowering shrubs and evergreens. Prune flowering shrubs immediately after flowers die, before
they set next year's blooms.
Fertilize young trees.
Prepare garden beds. Till and add amendments as necessary, including water-retention crystals to save on watering during
the summer months.
Plant perennials. Come in and see our line of perennials at Galaxy Garden.
Plant seeds indoors or in the greenhouse, if you haven't already.
At Galaxy, we carry a Jiffy seed starter greenhouse and heat blanket to speed up your seedling development.
Plant seedlings after your last-frost date. We'll have plenty of seeds for you to choose from at Galaxy Gardens, including
a full line of organic vegetables.
Begin hardening seedlings and overwintered plants by bringing them outdoors each day.
Once you've completed your spring gardening cleanup, you'll start the summer with a fresh canvas, and you can let your
imagination flow. If you're short in the inspiration department, drop by Galaxy Gardens where we'll share some ideas with you
to make this your best garden season yet.
