The days are growing longer, and the weather is starting to warm up, which means spending more time outside! Spring is a season of renewal and regrowth, the trees are budding, and everything is beginning to transform from dull to vibrant and green. The excitement and anticipation of the Spring and Summer have everyone buzzing with activity as they start preparing their lawns and gardens. Whether you’re a well-seasoned gardener or you’re just learning, there are always tricks of the trade that can help your garden flourish. Today, we want to offer some tips to help you set up your yard for success!
1.EARLY SEASON TEMPERATURE WATCH
Yes, the day time temperatures are climbing, and things are starting to feel like Spring, but be sure not to leave any plants outside overnight just yet. Once the nighttime temperatures reach 8-10 degrees, you’re safe to leave those planters out, but until then ensure that you are bringing them in so you won’t risk losing them.
2.GENERAL GARDEN CLEAN UP
You never know what you’ll find in your garden beds after the snow has melted and the ground has thawed, so first, we recommend raking your garden. This will remove any debris (leaves, branches, garbage) that is covering your plants. Next, we suggest pulling any dead annuals (by the roots) and tossing them into your compost bin or bag.
We’ve already noticed the weeds are making their appearance, so free your garden beds of all these pesky plants. Now its time to remove any dead growth from your perennials, be careful not to go overboard and pull/trim any new growth. Gently pull at the dead leaves and stems, if they don’t come out easily leave them or prune it out; instead, you don’t want to risk pulling out new roots.
3.EDGE YOUR GARDEN BEDS
The grass always seems to find its way into your garden. Now is the perfect time to edge your garden while the ground is still wet and easy to cut into. Edging your gardens will give them a fresh, clean appearance, the perfect start to achieving an eye-catching landscape.
4.FEED YOUR SOIL
There are many different types of fertilizers and figuring out which one you need can be a daunting task, especially if you’re new to gardening and plants. Anna’s offers a great selection of fertilizers, and we’re always happy to help you find the perfect ones for your plant needs. This is a step that we think a lot of people forget about, but it plays a significant role in the success of our plants and flowers. We want to help our soil by providing it with all the nutrients it needs, to then help feed the plants that live in it. So don’t forget to grab your fertilizer when you’re coming in to buy your plants.
5.USE WHAT YOU HAVE
Going the natural route seems to be getting more and more popular, so we wanted to offer some information on some all natural products that will help your garden grow. Here are some items you probably already have at home that will help feed your soil and therefore help your plants and flowers to flourish:
Epsom Salts – Not only good for soothing achy muscles while you soak in the tub, but they are also beneficial for your garden as well. Epsom salts are the ideal answer to a variety of organic gardening needs. They help grow bright, vibrant roses, help with the germination of seeds, reduce transplanting shock and grow the best-tasting tomatoes and peppers.
Coffee Grounds – we don’t know about you, but a coffee or two is a must to make it through our day, and that adds up to a lot of coffee grounds. Instead of just tossing them into the trash, start taking full advantage of this slow release fertilizer that’s full of nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus and other micronutrients. Coffee grounds also act as a natural pesticide, keeping slugs and snails away. They can also help get your roses in full bloom, so if you have roses, rhododendrons, azaleas, lilies, holly or gardenias, you’re going to want to keep some extra coffee grounds on hand.
Egg Shells – Again instead of tossing your cracked eggs into the garbage, toss them into your compost bin. Don’t have a compost bin? Help out Mother Earth and get started! You can also crush the eggshells and sprinkle them around the base of your plants; the sharp shells will help prevent slugs, snails and other bugs from nibbling on your garden and also adds calcium to your soil.
6.PEST PREVENTING PLANTS
Bugs and other pests are inevitable when it comes to your garden, but consider adding in some pest preventing plants to help keep those pesky bugs away from your plants and from you. Here are some plants and why they’re a great choice:
Marigolds – They have a distinctive smell that repels mosquitos and other garden pests, and they contain a natural compound used in many insect repellents.
Lavender – We may love the pleasant smell of this beautiful plant, but bugs do not! The only insect you’ll see around Lavender are bees; they love the flowers.
Lemongrass – This ornamental grass grows up to 4ft tall and contains citronella, a common ingredient in many mosquito repellents.
7.PERENNIAL PLANNING
Gardening is a beautiful thing, not only because of the outcome but because it allows you to get creative. We love perennials because they’re the plant that keeps coming back, which means less work for you. When purchasing your perennials be sure to take a look at the bloom dates. Selecting plants that will bloom at different times of the season will ensure that your garden is always full of life and colour.
8.POLLINATE
Bees play a vital role in achieving a healthy, thriving garden, so let’s take steps to increase food and shelter for our pollinators. How do we do this? Anna’s carries natural homes in different shapes and sizes for safe solitary bees. These little beehives naturally attract non-swarming bees like the Red Mason Bee, and Leafcutter Bee (the safest bees for children and pets). These bees are attracted to holes in wood for nesting and egg laying. Adding a Solitary Bee Hive will attract bees to your garden, increase crop yields and aid in protecting and increasing our beloved bees. You can attract bees to your garden by planting flowers and plants that bees love. Here are some examples of bee attracting flowers: Alyssum, Aster, Coneflower, Geranium, Poppies, and Black-eyed Susans. Bees and other pollinators are active at different times of the year, so make sure you include a variety of plants that bloom from early spring to late fall.
9.ADD COLOUR WITH ANNUALS
Adding colour to your front and back garden really makes things come alive. From early Spring to frost you can quickly and easily add pops of colour by incorporating annuals. Annuals can be added to porches, patios and gardens to brighten things up throughout the Spring and Summer, simply add hanging baskets and planters!
We hope these tips and tricks will help you achieve your ultimate garden. Come on into Anna’s and start planning out your garden for this upcoming Spring and Summer, we can’t wait to see what you pick out!
