Get Ready for Spring in the Garden
Get Ready for Spring in the Garden
A guide to early March preparation and planning from the Plant Clinic
Essential Spring Outlook
Early March is a perfect time to get ready to garden. “It’s too soon for digging or planting,” says our plant knowledge specialist. “But there’s plenty of planning and preparation to do.”
Plan
Research before buying
Tidy
Clean debris & prune
Water
Plan efficient delivery
1. Plan Ahead for Plants
All winter, crews have been preparing for planting display beds. They have been seeking out sources for the plants that will structure the garden’s spaces and create a wide variety of colorful, lush, flower-filled displays.
Before garden centers fill up with tempting impulse buys, think through what your garden needs and research the plants that might fill those needs. If you would like a small tree or shrub to add interest to the front yard, think through the conditions of the site and consider species that might be a good fit.
Expert Advice: “If you go shopping with a list, or at least with a list of a few well-researched alternatives, you’ll save money and choose plants with a better chance of success.”
2. Maintenance & Soil Care
Tidy Up
Pick up trash and debris. Cut back ornamental grasses and the stalks of perennials to within 1 or 2 inches of the ground. Prune any broken branches or dead wood on shrubs.
Soil Health
“A layer of plant matter on the soil is healthy,” she explains. “It’s mulch. It insulates the soil to protect plants against late freezes, and it also breaks down slowly to enrich the soil. Soil in the garden should never be bare.”
Frost Heave: Gently push the plants back in place if they've been pushed out by freeze-thaw cycles.
3. Sowing and Weeding Strategy
Be Ready to Start Weeding
Some of the first plants to sprout in spring will be weeds, so start pulling them and digging them up as soon as you spot them. “There’s no way to totally get rid of weeds, but if you start early and weed often, you can stay ahead of them.”
| Category | Action | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Indoor Seedlings | Start tomatoes and peppers under lights | Now (March) |
| Cold-Tolerant Veggies | Sow spinach, carrots, and beets outside | Early April |
| Trees & Shrubs | Planting hardy species | Post-thaw (April) |
4. Critical Planting Framework
Don’t Dig Too Soon
“Wait until your soil is thoroughly thawed and most water has drained away before you do any digging or planting. Working in wet soil can compact it, squeezing particles together into a dense mass.”
Space for the Future
“Remember that trees and shrubs get wider as they grow taller. Make sure you know how wide the plant can get in 10 or 20 years and that you’re allowing enough space.”
5. Think about Watering
Plan now for how you will deliver water with as little trouble and waste as possible. That might mean laying soaker hoses in perennial beds or around trees to water slowly, deeply, and efficiently.
“As the climate changes, we need to develop habits and gardens that save water,” she said. Grouping drought-tolerant perennials in your hottest places ensures a resilient landscape.
Ready for a Flourishing Garden?
Early preparation is the key to a vibrant, healthy outdoor space. Don't wait until the ground thaws to start your journey.
Contact Woody’s Plant Nursery to find the perfect species for your spring planting.
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