What can you possibly do right now in the dead of winter to get started on your spring gardening? A lot actually. Of course you can go ahead and purchase seeds, and replace any tools that may have become worn out during last year’s growing season. But you can also begin to think critically and about what worked well and what didn’t in your garden and in all of the spots where things are growing around your home. The more you plan for the coming planting season, the more successful you will be, so go ahead and grab a journal or a start a running document on your laptop, and get ahead of the game for the upcoming spring.
Unpack What You Learned Last Year
Think back to last spring and summer, and even to your fall vegetable haul. What flowers, vegetables and other plants did you really enjoy, both in terms of planting, tending, and the attractive and/or delicious payoff at the end? What plants didn’t grow the way they should have? And if you ended up with any completely barren spots where bulbs were planted and flowers were expected, definitely make note of where and what was supposed to have sprouted up in that location.
For the things that worked well, perhaps you should consider planting more in the coming season. If you found that there was a certain variety of tomato that everyone enjoyed, or a flowering plant that was an absolute show stopper, consider spreading more of these plants throughout your yard and/or garden as you map out this spring’s planting. As for the plants that didn’t work out, don’t scrap all of your plans where these duds are concerned without thinking through the details. There are many circumstances to consider before removing something from your future planting plans.
Location is Everything
Many plants that experience a failure to thrive are simply rooted in the wrong location. For example, if you picked a shady spot for a sun-loving variety, or direct sun for a plant that prefers moderate shade, you may simply need to rearrange things so that these two plants swap locations. Water is another consideration. You may feel that you are supplying every plant in your yard or garden with the same amount of hydration, whether from the hose or in the form of frequent rains. However, every yard is made up of many microclimates, and the soil in each does not absorb moisture in the same manner. Make sure your plants that require the most water are located in the part of your yard that holds in rainfall and moisture the best.
Location also matters when it comes to the appearance of your flower garden and any flowering shrubs. If you are no longer pleased with the color layout you are seeing, plan to rearrange some of your flowers in the coming season, or add some additional blooms in a different color to change things up. For flowering shrubs that are firmly rooted, you can add smaller flowers in between in a contrasting shade to break up the monotony.
Take Note of Bare Spots
You can probably do this now even during the dormant winter months. If not, check to see if you have any photos taken outdoors around your home in a recent spring or summer. Look for any shrubs or small trees that do not appear to be as healthy as they once were. Plants do sometimes need to be replaced, so even if you are happy with the variety in a certain location, if it is looking worn and on death’s door, consider planting a healthier plant of the same type this spring.
You should also think about any spots in your yard that seem bare because there is nothing there at all. It’s never the wrong time to plant a fruit tree or shade tree, so if you have a particularly large patch of nothingness in your yard, consider planting one of these to provide lasting fruit and/or shade for years to come.
Only Grow What You Will Actually Eat
You might enjoy the process of growing turnips, but if it only leaves you feeling frustrated when no one in your household, including yourself, will eat them, consider removing them from your planting plans in the coming season. For any vegetables that your family doesn’t actually eat, replace then with a tried and true favorite. Don’t worry that you are growing too many of the same kind of vegetable if they are things your family loves. Instead, experiment with different varieties of a beloved favorite.
Irrigation Issues
As you plan for the coming season, think about ways you can make your watering system more efficient. This is a good idea whether you have a fully automated irrigation system, or if you water every inch of your garden and yard by hand. If you have never had an irrigation system, consider how much of a benefit you could receive from installing such a device. Most systems come with rain-sensitive monitors, so that they automatically skip their preset cycle if rain has already done the job for them. If you aren’t ready to commit to a fully automatic system, would the installation of a few sprinklers make a difference for your vegetable or flower garden? Sometimes just a small amount of help beyond your own hose can make a world of difference in the health of your plants.
You might also want to consider other irrigation ideas, such as a greywater capture system. If you aren’t familiar with this type of system, you aren’t alone, but they are becoming more popular, especially with avid gardeners. Most of the time we are watering our yards and plants with the same quality of water we use for our indoor needs such as drinking water and the water we cook and clean with. But your plants are perfectly content to receive the gently used water from showers, bathtubs, laundry and sinks — this water is known as greywater. Since the average American household uses approximately half its water indoors and the other half outside for irrigation, you might be able to cut your water bill by as much as 50% by irrigating with greywater.
When a greywater system is installed, pipes are replumbed so that this water is carried away from the sewer lines and instead to the pipes serving your irrigation system. A plumber that specializes in this type of irrigation system will change over the outflow from your washing machine, bathtubs, showers and sinks so that the water is carried by gravity to the irrigation system. That makes this system ideal for lots with a gentle slope, and where much of the gardening is done at the lower end of the yard. If you are needing to carry the water uphill, a sump pump will be installed as well so that the water can be pumped up to where it is needed.
Storage Solutions
Next think about how much of a pain it was to maintain your garden and yard throughout the year last year, and what you could do differently to make life easier for yourself. Do you store most of your gardening tools in an easily accessible outdoor shed, or have you instead been lugging everything down from the garage or up from the basement? Now is a great time to rearrange your storage system so that the tools you use most often are within easy reach of the garden you are tending. Small storage sheds are out of season at many retailers, but if you can find one you might be able to score quite a good deal as stores clear out last year’s models to make room for new shipments.
Once you have a more convenient location for all of your gardening implements, take some time to organize them in a way that may be more aesthetically pleasing to you, and you’ll likely enjoy the task of garden maintenance far more. These items such as tools, bags of soil and extra pots will not be as fun to look at if they are unkempt. Instead consider ways you can organize and store all of your garden paraphernalia so it’s handy but not an eyesore. Installing hooks and holders so that tools can be hung rather than thrown on the shed floor is a good example of proper organization.
If you are storing equipment such as a lawnmower or aerator in your shed, add a ramp to make taking your equipment in and out easier. You may also want to add a built in shelf that can act as a work surface for when you are transferring plants from one pot to another, or removing them from a pot or container as a precursor to planting them in your yard or garden. This will make such tasks easier on your back as well if you aren’t kneeling and bending as much. Proper organization and planning will lead to gardening success in the months to come.