Early Spring Gardening Checklist: Chores, Soil & Planting

Spring's arrival signals garden restart. A structured early-season approach sets the stage for a thriving year.

Critical Early Chores

• Clear winter debris.
• Repair trellises, fences, structures.
• Reset frost-heaved plants.
• Remove winter protection from evergreens/shrubs after last frost.
• Sharpen tools, replace mower blades.
• Redesign beds if planned.
• Prepare new beds: till, graft, transplant potted shrubs (damp soil eases transition).
• Dispose of old chemicals safely; buy fresh supplies.
• Test soil if indicated.

Planning & Planting

• Plan: Visit nurseries, review catalogs. Select varieties for your zone.
• Enrich Soil: Sow green manures (clover, trefoil, lupin) or compost debris.
• Prune: Flowering shrubs—know bud timing. Prune evergreens now; not deciduous trees.
• Plant Cool-Season Crops: Artichokes, calendula, parsley, carrots, lettuce, onions, spinach, early potatoes. Delay tomatoes, squash, corn.

Methodical early action yields months of reward.