| Spring is in my opinion the most wonderful time | | | | your flower beds in early spring. Or if you have |
| of year for the gardener. You can shake of that | | | | some space left in your garden you can set up a |
| winter weariness and get ready for a new | | | | "Cold Frame". Ready-made cold frames are |
| gardening season. | | | | available in different sizes. A cold frame "captures" |
| The most difficult part of spring gardening is | | | | the spring sunlight and warms the soil it surrounds. |
| trying to manage your impatience. Don't start | | | | That way it is ideal to "harden off" houseplants |
| digging around too early. The soil must be dry | | | | and transplants for your summer garden. You can |
| enough to have it fall apart when you pick it up. | | | | use the cold frame for direct seeding as well. |
| When it still sticks together like glue that's | | | | If you have unplanted areas in your garden a |
| definitely not the case. | | | | great spring project is to lay out landscape cloth |
| Early spring is the best time of year to change | | | | on that unplanted area. Landscape cloth is an |
| (parts of) your garden design. You can transplant | | | | excellent weed barrier. It comes in different |
| existing shrubs and perennial plants before they | | | | weights, heights and fabric choices. This cloth can |
| begin to leaf out. This also is the time to prune | | | | then also serve as a great map to precisely plant |
| your trees and shrubs. Cut back the remaining | | | | your transplants. |
| dead foliage from last season and remove dead, | | | | Weeds start to grow very early but still have |
| damaged or diseased branches of trees and | | | | shallow roots in spring so get them out when you |
| shrubs. | | | | spot them. Getting on top of the weeds now |
| And then flowers! That's really what spring is | | | | means a lot less work in summer, and I'm sure |
| about isn't it! There are many that are suitable for | | | | that digging out weeds in the burning sun in not |
| cool spring weather. Think of sweet alyssum, | | | | your favorite pastime. |
| some snapdragons, stock and sweat peas. You | | | | These two measures will definitely intimidate your |
| can also start some perennials like hostas and | | | | perennial weeds to the extent that they will |
| daylilies. | | | | prefer your neighbor's garden over yours. |
| Start some Violets, Marigolds, Carnations, | | | | And most of all enjoy your spring garden, watch |
| Geraniums and Impatiens inside to transplant to | | | | it grow and blossom into summer! |