Everything You Need to Know About Spring Gardening Preparation

Good news, we are almost finished with winter! If you’re anything like us, you are eager for some spring sun, blooms, and freshness. After a long steady winter, your garden is ready to transition for a time of growth and harvest. We are going to share everything you need to know about prepping your garden for this upcoming spring. Let’s get into it —

what and where?

These two questions are going to be the foundation of your spring garden preparation. What am I going to grow? Where am I going to grow it? For starters, if you’re wanting lots of vegetables, it’s best to aim for a consistently sunny area of your yard. If some of your veggies require around 8 hours of sunlight while others less, you can go ahead and shade the ones that have reached their max in order to prevent sunburn. (Google plant shades and you’ll find tons of unique options!)

fertilize your soil

Fertilizing can be an easily missed step, but it’s so incredibly important to prioritize so you can ensure that your soil is giving the best nutrients to your garden. In addition, fertilizer builds the malleability of the soil, which makes it easier for roots to stretch through as they grow. There are lots of options for fertilizers, we would recommend chatting with your local nursery for some specific advice!

Compost is another accessory that is commonly used by gardeners to enhance the richness of the soil. Planet Natural Research Center states that “most frequently and most usefully, compost is added to your garden as a soil amendment to improve soil structure, buffer pH, increase the population of micro and macro organisms, and add organic material on which soil organisms feed.” Important to note: make sure to uproot any weeds that may be in your garden beds before fertilizing!

mulch is your friend year round

Not only is mulch helpful to protect against cold weather throughout the winter, it also is helps protect soil from spring sun and assists in maintaining the moisture that’s required to feed plants. As mulch breaks down over time, it gifts your plants with more nutrients! We would recommend wood chips as your choice of mulch as many plants will benefit from this option.

know your zone

Knowing what plants thrive in your zone is key. It is so tempting to add in something from a zone that functions differently, but we want to save you a headache and heartache. Learn more about your zone and stick to what works. Fo reference, the Bay Area is Zone 9b. If you are a reader from a different area, here is a good resource to find your growing zone from the USDA Planting Zone Map.