Garden Bed Preparation

The end of winter and early spring is a crucial time of year for your garden bed.  Proper preparation at this time of year can help the garden grow and ease the life of the gardener for months to come.  Preparing the soil is a simple process that will take little time and pay returns long after the snow has melted and the heavy coats go into storage.  Be sure to stop by your local Blue Seal store to talk to one of our experts about your specific garden preparation needs.

Weeds

Ridding your garden of weeds ensures that they will not pilfer nutrients and moisture from the plants you want to grow.  Gardeners are in a never-ending battle with weeds but this time of year, right before major planting, is most essential and also the easiest time to take care of the problem.  Chickweed, dandelions, and henbit tend to be three of the biggest troublemakers.  Stop by Blue Seal to get tips on eliminating these culprits.  And don’t forget the long-trusted method of getting your hands dirty and pulling them out by the roots.  This will always be the most effective system, but you may want to think about using a hoe to save strain in your back.  With weeds eliminated, other plants have easier access to nutrients and greater freedom to lay strong roots.

Soil

In order for your springtime garden to really spring, you want the soil to be loose and rich so that plants can easily push roots through.  Sift through it to make sure there are no stones or anything else that may disrupt roots from taking hold.  In your hand, the soil should crumble easily but not be so dry that it’s powdery.  If it is too dry, do a light watering and wait a couple hours.  If the soil is wet or frozen still, you’ll have to put off the project for a little longer; starting too early can have an adverse effect and cause compaction.  Wait for warmer weather and brighter days.

When the soil is ready, you can treat it with a number of different products depending on what nutrients it needs.  Running a simple soil test can answer a lot of questions about your garden’s strengths and weaknesses, but if you’re still unsure about exactly what organic materials might be best, stop by to get assistance from an expert at Blue Seal.